Novak Djokovic has revealed that one of the secrets to his success in Australia is his special relationship with a particular tree he visits in Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens.
The Serbian star will be looking to defend his title and win his 25th grand slam, moving further ahead of Rafael Nadal’s total of 22.
The 36-year-old Djokovic saved four set points to take the third set against determined Aussie Alexei Popyrin before winning the match three sets to one on Wednesday evening in the second round of the Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena.
Then he talked about rumors about the tree he visited.
“It’s true,” he said, declining to identify the exact tree he has returned to during each campaign down under.
Novak Djokovic has revealed he likes to visit a particular tree when he comes to Australia
The Serbian star says that the tree in question is an ‘old friend’ and that he likes to connect with it
“That particular tree, I can’t reveal which one, I’ll try to keep it discreetly to myself when I’m there to have my own time,” he said.
“I like to ground myself and connect with that old friend.”
When asked why he was attracted to the tree, Djokovic said: “I liked the roots, the trunks and branches and all that. That’s why I started it years ago. That is it. I just have a connection.”
Precocious local talent Popyrin threatened to thwart Djokovic’s attempt to top Margaret Court when he had four set points in the third set of Wednesday’s match, but the champion saved them all en route to a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-6). 4) 6-3 victory.
Djokovic was combative in front of a pro-Popyrin crowd at Rod Laver Arena, including a showdown with the heckler at 2-2 in the fourth set.
The Serbian star took exception to a comment from a spectator and approached the stands to tell him to ‘come over here and say it to my face’.
When asked what the heckler said, Djokovic joked: “I mean, you don’t want to know.
“A lot of things were said to me on the pitch, especially from that corner, and on the same side the other corner.
Djokovic got past determined Aussie Alexei Popyrin in Melbourne late on Wednesday night, but there was plenty of drama as he furiously challenged a heckler in the crowd
“I tolerated it for most of the game. At one point I had enough and asked him to come down and tell me to my face.
“When you confront someone, unfortunately for him, he didn’t have the courage to come down. That’s what I asked him.
“If you have courage, if you’re such a tough man, a tough guy, come down and tell it to my face, and let’s have a discussion about it.
‘He apologized from afar. That’s all.’
Djokovic admitted the bickering upset him.
‘I’m not going to sit there and say it’s all fine. It’s not good,” he said.
‘Of course it bothers me. I’m frustrated. I don’t want to experience that, but I have to accept it as it is.
‘Sometimes I don’t tolerate it when someone crosses the line. That is it. That’s what happened.
‘People have a few more drinks… I think that also has an effect on how they feel and behave late at night.
‘Fine. People pay tickets to come see us. They want to see the show. They want to have fun. They can do that.
The Serb said to the spectator: ‘Say that to my face!’ in the fiery eruption (photo)
‘There is no problem because I have never asked anyone to leave the stadium. I never asked the chair umpire to take anyone out.
“I wouldn’t do that because he paid for his ticket, and he has the right to be there and say what he wants to say and behave the way he wants to behave.
“But if someone crosses the line, I’m going to take it to him, just like I did with this man, ask him if he wants to come closer and tell me what he wants to tell me – insult me, insult me like he did .’
Djokovic will face Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the third round.