Serena Williams’ ex-coach talks down Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open chances over emotional baggage

Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic will have a much tougher time at the 2023 edition, according to Serena Williams’ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

The 52-year-old, who led Williams to his sixth and seventh Australian Open titles and is currently coaching rising star Holger Rune, said it would be difficult to deal with Djokovic’s “emotional baggage” over the deportation drama. .

The 35-year-old Serbian superstar was deported in January last year and had to miss the tournament, following intervention by the Australian government, who said the fact that he was unvaccinated and a leading ‘antivaxxer’ meant he could represent a risk. to the community

Novak Djokovic waves to the crowd after winning his Adelaide International opener on Tuesday.

It was a protracted saga that spanned nearly two weeks, during which Djokovic spent time in a Melbourne immigration detention center that refugees at the time labeled “a torture prison.”

Mouratoglou said the experience is sure to scrape away some of the 21-time Grand Slam champion’s mental scars as he seeks to justify his $2.50 (TAB.com.au) favoritism for the title.

Serena Williams’ (left) former coach Patrick Mouratoglou (right), who guided the US superstar to two Australian Open titles, says if Djokovic wants to win Down Under this year, he’s going to have to overcome some demons difficult mental

“It’s going to be tough for Novak in Australia, that’s for sure,” he said. eurosport.

‘He’s going to carry a lot of emotional baggage. He’s been through a lot, emotionally speaking. No one is immune… it’s going to be hard.’

For his part, Djokovic, who is currently in South Australia for the Adelaide International, is eager to look back on all the good times he enjoyed in Australia since winning the Open for the first time in 2008.

Novak Djokovic is taken from a Melbourne immigration detention center in January 2022 after his visa was cancelled.

The Djokovic without vaccinations arrived in Australia, and after a delay of almost two weeks he was deported for putting the health and safety of the population at risk, according to the government

‘What happened to me 12 months ago was not easy for me, for my family or for the team… you can’t forget those facts. It’s something I’ve never experienced before and I hope never again,” he told reporters upon arriving in Australia last week.

“It was disappointing to leave the country like this, but I was really hoping to get permission to play in Australia again.

‘It’s a country where I’ve had tremendous support. I have always played my best tennis here.

‘Melbourne is close to my heart. What happened was not easy for me to swallow, but I had to move on and those circumstances will not replace what I have had in Melbourne and Australia.

“So I come here with positive emotions,” Djokovic said before a practice session in Adelaide.

While acknowledging that it would be easier said than done to get over last year’s traumatic experience and having to miss subsequent tournaments due to his vaccination status, Mouratoglou said there were certainly some elements of preparation in Djokovic’s favor.

‘It’s the pre-season, it’s the off-season and there’s no competitive stress. So (Djokovic) will be emotionally rested, which is good,” he said.

“And then it won’t start directly with the Australian Open, so he’ll have time to get used to the atmosphere there.”

Novak Djokovic celebrates after comfortably representing Constant Lestienne at the Adelaide International on Tuesday

Djokovic looked calm, relaxed and focused in Adelaide, beating Constant Lestienne 6-3, 6-2 in his first singles match of the tournament.

He and his best friend Vasek Pospisil fell in doubles in a tiebreaker, but it was clear the Serb got exactly what he needed from the match.

There were concerns that he would not be received well by the public after last year’s vaccination drama, but his reception in Adelaide has proven those concerns wrong – so far.

Dozens of fans have lined up to catch a glimpse of the superstar, lovingly chanting his name and holding up signs, and Djokovic has been incredibly accommodating, as usual, with all sorts of fan requests, selfies and autographs.

Novak Djokovic has been a hit with fans in Adelaide, and has been seen taking photo after photo with fans of all ages.

Children and adults alike poured into the stands of the Memorial Drive Tennis Center to get an autograph from the Serbian star.

Djokovic happily complied with the mountain of fan requests, proving fears about how he would be received in Australia were wrong, at least in South Australia.

As the Open start date of January 16th approaches, those waters will be tested in the city where the deportation drama took place.

Thankfully, there seems to be just a shred of animosity towards the nine-time champion and suave prankster, who has always been a fan favorite.

If Djokovic can justify his overwhelming betting favoritism and win the title, he will tie fellow ‘Big Three’ Rafael Nadal for the most men’s Grand Slam titles in history: 22.

He then takes to the court on Thursday, where he will play Frenchman Quentin Halys in the round of 16 at Memorial Drive Tennis Center in the shadow of Adelaide Oval.