Novak Djokovic wants double your sympathy.
The world’s best men’s tennis player generously mentioned how he was affected by a hamstring injury at the Australian Open – where he made it through most of the 4 rounds and stays the clear favorite to win his tenth profession title in Melbourne and twenty second overall – after which played the victim, while some questioned the severity of the injury.
In the fourth round on Monday, Djokovic beat Australia’s No. 22 Alex de Minaur 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.
“The way in which I felt with my leg before tonight didn’t give me much hope, so to talk, of constructing it through the tournament. I feel it tonight, so I’m positive,” Djokovic later said, revealing that he had been taking “loads” of anti-inflammatory pills and using “different treatments, machines and stuff” to treat his hamstring injury.
![Novak Djokovic hits a forehand during his victory over Alex de Minaur on January 23, 2023.](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/novak.jpg?w=1024)
![Novak Djokovic during the post-match press conference](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/novak2.jpg?w=1024)
De Minaura was interrogated for Djokovic’s hamstring after the match and told reporters, “Playing him, I assumed he moved pretty much, so … I do not know.”
De Minaur – call him a sore loser or a healthy skeptic – continued: “I feel everyone can see what has been occurring for several weeks. It’s the only thing everyone talks about. Today I used to be there in court against him. Either I’m not a very good enough tennis player to disclose it, or… it seemed good to me.
This query and answer moved Djokovic.
![Alex de Minaur is off the field](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/deminaur3.jpg?w=1024)
“I leave the doubts to those people – allow them to doubt,” Djokovic told Serbian media in his native language. at the Tennis Majors. “Only my injuries are in query. When other players are injured, they’re the victims, but when it’s me, I pretend.
“It’s extremely interesting. … I do not feel like I actually have to prove anything to anyone,” he said, before seriously considering posting his MRI results “in my documentary or on social media.”
“At this point, I’m not all in favour of what people think and say,” said Djokovic, continuing to ponder what people think and say. “It’s funny, it’s interesting to observe the narrative unfold around me, [a] a narrative that differs from other players who’ve passed through similar situations. But I’m used to it and it gives me extra strength and motivation. So I thank them for that.”
![Novak Djokovic lunges towards the ball](https://nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/01/novak3.jpg?w=1024)
Taylor Fritz, the top-ranked American men’s player, injected a dose of balance into the game forwards and backwards when he wrote on social media“80% of players at all times give away [with] something (severity levels vary) but everyone seems to be honest, at all times somewhat screwed up… the media at all times only focuses on the best guys, so these issues get more attention.
Djokovic, 35, won the Australian Open from 2018 to 2020 but missed last 12 months’s tournament after taking a stand against COVID vaccination and being deported from the country.