Novak Djokovic, beneath the watchful eye of former coach and eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi, was made to work onerous for his opening-round win on the 2024 Australian Open on Sunday.
Taking up qualifier Dino Prizmic, the Serb battled on Rod Laver Enviornment for almost 4 hours (three hours and 59 minutes) earlier than prevailing 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4 in entrance of a vociferous Melbourne crowd.
Talking at his on-court interview afterwards, the World No. 1 was requested if he observed four-time winner Agassi within the stands, to which he answered within the affirmative.
Djokovic, beaming because the cameras focussed on the American, thanked Agassi for gracing his match and the Australian Open together with his presence on the night time. He went on to joke about how one of many returns he made within the fourth set reminded him of Agassi, just for him to lose three straight video games after that second.
Agassi, together with the gang, started to chortle on the remark, following which the 24-time Grand Slam champion shortly famous that it was not his fault. Djokovic smilingly added that he simply needed to point out the eight-time Main winner how his presence overwhelmed him.
“In fact [I noticed him]. Andre, nice to have you ever, thanks a lot for gracing us and the Australian Open along with your presence. We’ve not seen you in years. Truly, 4-0 and deuce and I made a forehand winner, I smiled at you and I mentioned, ‘It is virtually like your return,'” Novak Djokovic mentioned.
“After that I misplaced three video games in a row, not your fault, my fault. I misplaced my focus, however you recognize, I used to be impressed by your presence and overwhelmed to see you. Thanks for popping out,” he added.
“I positively see a number of extra years of Novak Djokovic being the one which needs to be handled” – Andre Agassi
Talking in a current interview throughout his time in Melbourne, Andre Agassi predicted that Novak Djokovic will stay the person to beat for a number of extra years no less than, joking that the one opponent the Serb can not beat is Father Time.
“The one factor I’m completely satisfied about is Novak is not going to beat Father Time. It’s only a query of how lengthy you possibly can postpone it. I positively see a number of extra years of him being the one which needs to be handled,” Andre Agassi instructed The Age and Sydney Morning Herald.
“How will you say one thing isn’t attainable? Information are supposed to be damaged, proper? Clearly we’re simply speculating on so many issues, which incorporates well being, and that’s going to begin to rear its head,” he added.
In the meantime, the World No. 1 will tackle both Marc Polmans or Alexei Popyrin within the second spherical of the 2024 Australian Open.