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Published 13:46 7 Sept 2020 BST
Updated 14:01 7 Sept 2020 BST
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Novak Djokovic plants a smacker on the Australian Open trophy in Melbourne, back in early February of this year. (Photo by Chaz Niell/Getty Images)[/caption]
Shortly after midnight, at the Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic cradled the Norman Brookes trophy [the eighth of his career] and reflected that he would have to taper off his playing commitments and pour all his focus into peaking for majors.
"It is my ambition to win as many of the grand slam titles as I can. It’s professionally what matters most to me."Djokovic turned 33 when the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic was at its' peak. He wants to spend more time with his wife and two young children. But he also knows time is against him as he strives to be the greatest player in the men's game.
"We were wrong and it was too soon," Djokovic admitted. "I can't express enough how sorry I am for this and every case of infection."Fellow tennis professional Nick Kyrgios called the events "bone-headed" and he was not alone in that view. 'Nole' was already up against it.
What he needed was for tennis to return, and on a large scale so there could be actual and meaningful health procedures put in place. Tournaments were staged in the USA and Djokovic was one of the first to commit to playing the US Open.
Thiem was going too, as was three-time major winner Andy Murray but there would be no Rafael Nadal [18 majors] or Roger Federer [20 majors]. Both men felt it was not safe, or correct, to travel to Flushing Meadows at this time.
For the tennis fans, a shame. For Djokovic, a potential procession to his fourth US Open crown.
After ascertaining that the lines-woman was okay, and offering his apology, the fighter in Djokovic turned his mind to how he could keep playing. How about a game or a set penalty? He could live with that.
The match referee made the call, however, and the No.1 seed was disqualified. By 'causing harm' to someone on the court, Djokovic left himself open to the rule-book being fizzed back at him.
"You're going to default me?" he incredulously asked. "My career, my Grand Slam? She didn’t need hospital."Livid with the situation, and with himself, he shook hands with whoever was having it and stalked off. He was not up for a 30-minute grilling by the press so loaded up his car and got out of there. Not ideal but, again, understandable. A follow-up apology showed up on Instagram after his pulse had slowed
'This whole situation has left me really sad and empty. I checked on the lines-person and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling OK.'His actions were rash and he will have to live with them for a long time to come. Grand Slam number 18 will have to wait and you can bet a part of him would love to throw himself straight back into action. He has a temper and he often has that swagger that champions carry, but he is not evil incarnate. One hopes he takes some proper time out after this - a real break away from the tennis circuit - for a few weeks and comes back with a longer fuse.
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