"A lot of masks fell off" - Djokovic on post-Australian Open relationships
ATP
Novak Djokovic thinks that many of his rivals showed their true faces during his challenging period in Australia this year.
Djokovic couldn't defend his title at the 2022 Australian Open. He was deported from the country because he wasn't vaccinated. As a result, his visa was also suspended for three years, making him unable to compete in Melbourne in the upcoming seasons unless that ban is overturned.
It was a challenging time for Djokovic. He was in a situation that he never expected to be in, and many of his colleagues from the ATP Tour were also asked to react.
With the biggest title contender in detention, other tennis players provided various statements. Some showed clear support for the Serbian player, while others supported the system.
Now, Djokovic spoke to the Serbian publication Sportal, admitting that he feels like the whole experience taught him a lot.
"I know that everything that has happened to me this year, especially with Australia and everything that came after, and dealing with me that I didn't like and had never experienced before, taught me some important life lessons."
At the same time, Djokovic feels that plenty of his colleagues showed their true faces. It was a challenging situation, and not everyone supported him at the time.
"It shows me what kind of world I live in, especially in this tennis ecosystem. A lot of masks fell off, so to speak, and it's very interesting for me to see how someone treated me this year."
"I respect that everyone has a different way of thinking about my situation and the circumstances. Finally, I have never insulted anyone or ever tried to be disrespectful in any way. I've always tried to show that it's important that everyone has the right and freedom of choice. For the decisions I made, I knew there would be certain consequences."
