Novak Djokovic pays tribute to legendary Mail Sport tennis correspondent Mike Dickson as the sport mourns the loss of ‘Mr Wimbledon’ after he tragically died aged 59 covering the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic paid tribute to legendary Mail Sport correspondent Mike Dickson after he tragically passed away on Wednesday.

Tim Henman and Rafael Nadal led the tributes from across the sporting world, with the world number 1 adding his own voice to the chorus after his first-round victory against Alexei Popyrin.

“Condolences to the family of Mike Dickson. Rest in peace,” Djokovic wrote on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to a message from Dickson’s family announcing his death.

Dickson was a hugely respected and admired journalist who spent 38 years in the industry – including 33 years at the Mail, having started in 1990 – and his loss will be deeply felt by colleagues.

He previously worked as a cricket correspondent for the Mail before switching to tennis and has covered a total of 30 different sports in almost 50 countries during a distinguished career.

Legendary Ny Breaking tennis correspondent Mike Dickson has tragically died aged 59

Dickson was in Melbourne covering the Australian Open when he died, days away from his 60th birthday, on January 27, with the news announced by his family at around 11.30pm local time.

Henman was visibly angry with Eurosport as he paid tribute to Dickson.

“It’s incredibly sad that he died in Melbourne,” he said, his voice cracking.

“He was a great friend to the tennis community and our thoughts go out to his family.”

Nadal, meanwhile, posted: “I am very sorry to hear about the passing of Mike, who has followed tennis for all these years. My thoughts go out to his family and our tennis family for your loss. Rest in peace.’

World No. 4 Coco Gauff tweeted: “I’m so sorry to hear this news. Sending my deepest condolences and may he rest in peace.”

Dickson’s esteemed work covering Wimbledon over the years saw him dubbed ‘Mr Wimbledon’, and the official X report of the tournament stated: ‘We at Wimbledon are all deeply saddened to hear this news.

“Mike has covered so many of our championships and brought so many stories to so many sports fans around the world during his distinguished career in journalism. Our thoughts are with his family and friends.”

Tim Henman led the tributes from across the sporting world to legendary Mail Sport correspondent Mike Dickson

Meanwhile, the Australian Open said: “We are shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Mike, our long-time colleague and friend. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his family.”

Dickson lived in Wimbledon with his family and enjoyed following both Tranmere and Everton after growing up on The Wirral. His wife Lucy announced the news of his death X in a joint message with the family.

She wrote: ‘We are devastated to announce that our wonderful husband and father, Mike, collapsed and passed away while we were in Melbourne for the Aus Open. For 38 years he lived his dream of covering sports all over the world. He was truly a wonderful man and we will miss him terribly. Lucy, Sam, Ruby and Joe.’

Lee Clayton, Global Publisher for Sport, paid his own tribute, saying: ‘Dicko was everything you would expect from a correspondent: a brilliant newshound, a great writer and a friend to so many in his sport. The tennis world will mourn with us. He was a giant of a journalist.

Dickson is seen here presenting the Ian Wooldridge Award to Roger Federer in 2018

Dickson was a hugely respected journalist, by readers and players alike. Here he is seen with Murray along a beach in Miami

‘It will be an impossibly difficult time for all of us as we come to terms with this enormous loss. Dicko was a great tennis correspondent, but he also dabbled in any sport, especially cricket, golf and football, supporting colleagues in our team through every challenge, always in such a generous way.

‘He was just a brilliant guy, a class man.

“It was a privilege to work with him and know him.”