Novak Djokovic was confused as to why his children were still awake at 1am in Melbourne as they stayed to watch him defeat Carlos Alcaraz and reach the Australian Open semi-finals.
As he conducted his on-court interview with Jim Courier, Djokovic lost his train of thought as he spotted Stefan and Tara in the stands, insisting that they should have been in bed at such a late hour.
“Sorry I heard your question but I’m just, I’m surprised that my kids are still here,” Djokovic told Courier. “I love you, thank you, but it’s 1am! Go to sleep. They don’t want me to speak about them, okay. Back to tennis.”
“With my two legs and two arms I guess,” Djokovic told Courier when asked how he managed to beat Alcaraz while not at his physical best. “(Well) one and a half leg.
“The medications started to kick in and I had to take another dose, that sounds awful taking another dose, but I had to. If I lost that second set I don’t know if I would have continue playing.
“But I felt better and better, managed to play a great couple of games to end off the second set, and then I saw that Carlos was hesitant a little bit from the back of the court and took my chances.
“(I) started to feel better, move better, it didn’t bother me or create hindrance at the end of the match, only in that second set. Obviously when the me dications start to release I’ll see what the reality is tomorrow morning.”
With the controversy involving Channel 9 host Tony Jones behind him, and Andy Murray by his side, Djokovic reminded everyone that the 10-time Australian Open champion is still the man to beat in Melbourne.
He produced a statement win over one of the superstars of tennis’ new generation, with the odds stacked against him, in a match that Djokovic will remember fondly.
“It’s one of the most epic matches I have played on this court, on any court really,” he added. “I just wish this match today was the final, honestly.”
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