Novak Djokovic once again impresses with his incredible mental strength. The Serbian champion is not new to finding the way to win impossible matches while coping with adversity. Unfortunately, the world no.1 got injured to his abdomen in the 3rd set of his match against Taylor Fritz at the Australian Open. After struggling for 2 sets, Djokovic managed to control his pain to win the decider.
The controversy and Patrick Mouratoglou
For some reason, Novak was accused of faking or dramatizing his injury. However, it seems implausible that such a champion makes up an injury while easily leading a match with a smooth 2-0 sets advantage (vs. Fritz).
Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou doesn’t believe that Djokovic played around with his injury to say:
“A lot of players like to have little pain here and there because it takes the pressure off. Now, we’re talking about champions. And champions never escape pressure. They accept it, embrace it and learn to deal with it.”
🗣️💬 @pmouratoglou : "Sometimes, Novak (Djokovic) plays a bit with the mind of the opponent when he's in trouble, pretending he's giving up. And then, boom, he plays again. He's done that a lot of time in the past, OK, but he never fakes an injury." #Thread #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YetT845E2a
— Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) February 14, 2021
Djokovic at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2021
Now the world no.1, Novak owns a 6-0 match record in 2021. Novak is competing at the Australian Open where he ousted Jeremy Chardy 6-3 6-1 6-2, Frances Tiafoe 6-3 6-73 7-62 6-3, Taylor Harry Fritz 7-61 6-4 3-6 4-6 6-2 and Milos Raonic 7-64 4-6 6-1 6-4.
Novak Djokovic will face Zverev in the quarter. Their actual record is 5-2 for Djokovic.
Djokovic won 82 titles in his career: 48 on hard courts, 15 on clay courts, 13 on indoor courts and 6 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
Serena Williams at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2021
Now the world no.11, Serena has managed to achieve an overall 7-0 win-loss record in 2021. The American is playing at the moment at the Australian Open where she toppled Laura Siegemund 6-1 6-1, Nina Stojanovic 6-3 6-0, Anastasia Potapova 7-65 6-2 and Aryna Sabalenka 6-4 2-6 6-4.
Serena Williams will play Halep in the quarter. Their actual head to head record is 9-2 for Serena Williams.
Serena Williams won 73 titles in her career: 43 on hard courts, 13 on clay courts, 7 on indoor courts, 2 on carpet courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of her titles)
