Djokovic, after recovering the crown in Australia: "I collapsed emotionally when I went to greet my people"

Novak Djokovic captured his tenth

title on Sunday

with a solid win over

.

It was not another trophy for the Serbian, because it allowed him to match the record for consecrations in Grand Slams, which he now shares with

, with 22 crowns each, and recover the number one in the world.

And, furthermore, because the two weeks he spent in Melbourne were not calm, among the uncertainty about how he would be received in that city, after last year's deportation, related to his refusal to get vaccinated against Covid;

the threat of injury, which was close to taking him out of the contest for the second year in a row;

and some extra sports controversies.

For this reason,

celebrated the victory like never before: he broke down when he went to greet his team, after the victory, and he cried, as he had never seen him do before in his career, after a tennis match.

And this Monday, during the traditional photo session of the champion, he acknowledged: "This tournament was a series of circumstances that demanded an enormous amount of energy from me -especially mental and emotional-, that's why I feel a little deflated at the moment, but, of course, very satisfied and happy".

"I never prepare my celebrations, I do what comes out of my soul depending on how things have gone," he said.

"I collapsed emotionally when I went to greet my people because I had a lot of tension and accumulated energy. And I realized everything they do for me and what they have had to struggle with in recent times. They are with me in the most difficult moments and without It would be impossible for them to do all this. This trophy is as much yours as it is mine."

The Serb, who returned to the top of the ranking he had last held in June last year, admitted that it was not easy to keep his head on target during the tournament.

"After the events of last year, coming back to Australia, I was curious and a little more nervous than usual about how people would receive me on and off the track. Overall it was a very positive experience. I also had to deal with the scare of an injury a few days before the tournament began," he started.

"Then there were some other events that I really didn't need to face, especially in the later stages of a Grand Slam, but I had to accept it, let it go, in a way, and focus on what mattered most," he continued, alluding to the controversy that starred his father, who after their quarterfinal duel, was photographed with fans who carried a Russian flag with the face of Vladimir Putin.

Djokovic, with his fans, pure joy after a tense two weeks in Melbourne.

Photo SAEED KHAN / AFP

"During a Grand Slam you have to block out all those kinds of emotions. If I really wanted to win the trophy, I had to stay strong and not let any external or disturbing factor distract me on my way to the title. And I did," he closed.

Another controversy that Djokovic starred in had to do with the hamstring injury in his left leg, which he had suffered in the semifinal of the

tournament (he beat

in the final ) and limited him in his first matches in Melbourne.

Many accused him of faking the annoyance.

After the consecration, both he and his coach,

, gave more details on the subject.

The former Croatian tennis player, his coach since 2019, assured that the results of the resonance that his pupil had before his third round match were "worrying" and that he really feared that he would not be able to face

in that instance . whom he finally beat in three sets.

Ivanisevic, Djokovic's coach, said he feared the Serb would not be able to play his third-round match.

Photo Martin KEEP / AFP

"I wouldn't say 100 percent, but 97 percent of the players who would have received that resonance on Saturday would have gone straight to the tournament referee and withdrew," Ivanisevic said.

"He, no. Novak is from another planet. His brain works differently. I've been with him for four years and he continues to amaze me. He gave everything. He did 77 therapies a day and every day he improved. I didn't expect it, really." 

The Serbian said that he is going to do new studies in the next few days and that, then, he will be able to "talk a little more about the subject and understand the situation."

And he confirmed that he hopes to return to the courts in a few weeks and play the

, which will start on February 27.

Once again at the top of the ranking, Djokovic will have two major challenges for the rest of the season: defending that position and seeking to expand his harvest of "big" titles, to remain alone as the top winner in the most important category of tennis.

Ivanisevic has no doubt that his player has many chances to achieve it.

Djokovic conquered Australia for the tenth time.

But he will be back for more.

"There is still a lot of fire inside me that burns with passion for the competition," he said.

AP Photo Photo/Ng Han Guan

"Without a doubt, I think he can stay at the top for two or three more years. The way he takes care of his body and how he eats is something incredible. Having young boys is good for our sport, but Rafa and Nole still They are still in the fight," reflected the coach.

He added: "About seven years ago I said that Novak and Rafa would surpass

in big titles and everyone looked at me weird. Now, they have 22 each. They are two incredible competitors. I'm looking forward to

. I hope, really, may both be healthy, because the battle will be there".

Djokovic, meanwhile, warned that his desire to fight for great things is still intact.

"I love this sport with all my heart. I love tennis, grabbing a racket and playing with anyone," he said.

"But at a professional level, I'm a fierce competitor. I don't like to lose... and there's still a lot of that fire inside me that burns with passion for the sport and for competition. It's what keeps me going to the best of my ability, day by day, after so many years repeating the same routines, there is always a bigger goal". 

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