The story of a cross: Djokovic’s path from interesting newbie to dogged loner – sport

So now it’s about a cross. Not about the cross on which, according to the Christian faith, Jesus was nailed. And with whom father Srdjan Djokovic had boldly compared his son Novak, because a week ago he was denied entry to Australia and he was taken to a deportation hotel in Melbourne for two and a half days. Rather, it is about a cross that the Serbian tennis superstar had put under point 2 of his entry form.

And while his mostly Serbian-born fans in Melbourne and at home on the streets celebrate him frenetically as folk heroes, freedom fighters and martyrs, the rest of the world once again stumbles against this man who is absolutely the best tennis player of all time rather, still wants to be loved by everyone and ultimately does one thing above all: He polarizes.

Djokovic ticked the obligatory question from the Australian authorities, whether one had already traveled 14 days in advance of the flight, with “No”. But the answer is not correct. Before his departure from Belgrade, the 34-year-old had trained in Marbella for a while and shared the pictures himself on social networks.

A note is attached to the entry form at point 2 and warns that false information is a serious offense and will be punished. Even with up to a year in prison. Anyone who has ever flown to Australia knows how strict the requirements are and that the border authorities are absolutely no joke.

50 minutes let Serbia cheer – for now

Now this little cross could still be Djokovic’s undoing, although judge Anthony Kelly granted his objection to the deportation on Sunday. However, Judge Kelly did not agree with the world number one in the matter – i.e. that his corona recovery and the accompanying medical documents as an exception reason for entry were correct – but because of formal errors by the Australian border authorities.

This had given the log records after Djokovic at the airport on Thursday morning until 8:30 a.m. to present his receipts for the special permit. But she only gave him until 7:40 a.m. Because of these 50 minutes, all of Serbia celebrates the “great victory against Australia”. A little too early.

Because now Djokovic has committed a formal error himself, although he claims that his documents were completed by the Australian tennis association Tennis Australia. Australia’s Minister for Immigration, Alex Hawke, has reserved the right to veto since the ruling on Sunday and to revoke Novak Djokovic’s visa and send the tennis star home. The minister will “examine the matter thoroughly,” said a spokesman.

Djokovic, meanwhile, pretends nothing has happened. The nine-time Melbourne winner trained in isolation in the Rod Laver Arena immediately after the verdict and posted optimistic messages: “Regardless of everything that happened, I want to stay and try to play”. But it is far from certain that Djokovic will actually be able to defend his title at the Australian Open from Monday.

“I’ve seen terrible things”

The behavior of Novak Djokovic has a long history in the tennis scene. It begins in the decade before last. Back when Djokovic established himself as Crown Prince behind Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in 2007 at the age of 20, his demeanor was still refreshing.

So there came someone with his dark, upright brush haircut, who didn’t seem to have anything to do with the body cult behavior of his generation and was somehow different. In an interesting way. Highly intelligent, fluent in several languages ​​at home and not shy about expressing one’s opinion. A rare commodity in a world with standard answers like: “You have to ask my trainer”.

Djokovic was driven by ambition, hungry for success because he had experienced the hunger himself. Grew up in the Balkan War of the 1990s, with privation and fear. “I’ve seen terrible things. It was a bad experience, ”he once said, but he didn’t want to tell much about his war experiences.

It was always clear to him that he had already experienced more in his life than the often well-protected professionals, who are relieved of a lot and who only grow up late. But the more Djokovic became Federer and Nadal’s worst challenger, the more he changed.

Driven by the longing for recognition and love from the fans, Djokovic tried to tense up. Sometimes he was too dogged, then he played the clown with parodies of his competitors, who didn’t always find it funny. And while Federer and Nadal managed to appear authentic and approachable, many found it difficult to get a real picture of the “Djoker”. What is he really like now?

His manner was his undoing

Djokovic no longer began to answer press conferences, but to give lectures. He liked to teach and not only lived his increasingly extreme gluten-free nutritional philosophy, but wanted to proselytize all over the world with it. It became exhausting with him.

His moods fluctuated and although he was always charitable, it usually seemed too willful and less selfless than calculating. Every year in Melbourne, the Serb started handing out fine chocolates to the journalists. As if good press could be bought so easily with something that he would never touch.

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