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How Novak Djokovic Chased Closure at the 2026 Australian Open

Novak Djokovic was unable to win his 25th Major title, but his reception in Melbourne showed why it may not be a necessary final chapter.
Edward Cleaver|
Novak Djokovic at the 2026 Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic at the 2026 Australian Open. | IMAGO / ABACAPRESS

The Melbourne and Novak Djokovic story has never had the adulation of Paris and Rafa Nadal. Nor Wimbledon and Roger Federer, where the All England Club’s exclusivity of elegance was internalised and embodied by the Swiss legend. In these cases, as a bare minimum, success leading to widespread acceptance was a formality.  

For the all-conquering Serb in the land down under, his stature was never received in the same way. He has not necessarily been unpopular with the Aussie public at large, but controversy, suspicion, and outbursts have all prevented the journey from following the template script.

Perhaps not a majority, but certainly a sizeable group has found themselves unable or unwilling to warm to him. However, eighteen years on from the first of his record-breaking ten titles at the Rod Laver Arena, this dynamic may finally have a resting place.

Djokovic’s accomplishments require no introduction. Nevertheless, recent years have only reinforced the perception that he is chasing more than the all-time Grand Slam singles’ title record (currently tied with Margaret Court at 24). Indeed, perception is the operative word here. His achievements are incontestable and clear. Views on his legacy in Australia are disputed and complicated.

"Cultural Differences"

The Sydney Morning Herald published a recent piece in which former tournament director, Paul McNamee, attempted to put his finger on the reasons for this. He alluded to “cultural differences” that caused Australian locals to grow disillusioned with Djokovic’s emotional in-game theatrics.

Other theories are also available, although logical rationales were harder to come by when Tony Jones, a reporter at the official broadcaster, Channel Nine, mocked his Serbian fans in 2025. Djokovic boycotted on-court interviews as a result.

The main flashpoint came three years before this. Australia’s pandemic laws were among the strictest in the world, setting the public mood on a collision course with Djokovic’s vaccine scepticism. Upon arriving in Melbourne, the country’s Border Force detained the ATP World No. 1.

The saga ended in him being deported, but only after a furious period in which Djokovic apologised for providing misleading evidence about his prior travel arrangements, as well as inconsistent decision-making and statements from prominent politicians. If this was the nadir, then it was truly darkest before the dawn.

What has followed appears to be a thawing in the tensions. Back in 2023, he dispatched Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets to complete his tenth victory at the Rod Laver Arena, sparking an outpouring of intense emotion when celebrating with his box.

Earlier in the tournament, which he declared the most significant victory of his life, he had received a reception he said he “could only dream of,” drawing a line under the surreal events of the year before.

Djokovic's Legacy

No title has come since down under. The stars almost aligned on this occasion, with Djokovic admitting a consecutive walkover and retirement from his opponents midway through were strokes of fortune. Australia has always seemed a likely location for his final peak, but whether he returns to those shores again is now an open question.

Nonetheless, his role in the four-set defeat to Carlos Alcaraz will not go down as simply an opportunity missed. Instead, the post-match speech Djokovic delivered symbolised so many strands of his story.

It highlighted the role he has assumed as an elder statesman, spoke to the hard-earned respect that is finally ubiquitous among Australian fans, and above all, underlined how he views that sentiment as a fundamental litmus test of his legacy.

In his remarks, he lavished praise on his young Spanish opponent, both on a sporting and personal level. The classy touches were constant. Obviously, Djokovic would have been enormously disappointed, but this was belied by his smile and warmth when embracing Alcaraz at the end.

This extended into the tone of a remarkably upbeat speech. Jokes, gratitude, and humility all forthcoming. Chants of “Novak, Novak, Novak” acted as a fitting backdrop. The final, simple line was the most fitting part of it all.

“I love you guys. It was a great ride.”

Whether the journey is genuinely over in Melbourne remains to be seen. But it was hard to escape the feeling that there was a sense of completion to this. Barring any unforeseen developments, the relationship between Djokovic and Melbourne now transcends sporting excellence. The disconnect between his character and his critics has been bridged.

Laying the Melbourne Story to Rest

The imperfect nature of the occasion - a defeat rather than another crowning moment - only served to enhance the spectacle. Despite the chance that it was his last appearance, the tournament never felt like a celebration and coordinated send-off of its most successful player.

The dynamic remains nuanced. For all the support he received over the fortnight, there were still occasions where it felt he was grappling with under-appreciation.

The most notable came when a reporter asked about possible parallels between the two ends of his career. Djokovic was questioned on whether he saw similarities in his pursuit of Nadal and Federer in the early days, with a pursuit of Sinner and Alcaraz towards the present back end.

He pushed back, saying, “So, I’m always the chaser, and I’m never being chased?” When the reporter noted the 24 Grand Slams he had won in the meantime, Djokovic’s pride was evidently poked at.

“It’s worth saying that sometimes, right?” he pointed out with a wry expression. While the exchange was far from heated, he added, “I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between.”

That prickly response gets to the crux of it all. Devoted Djokovic fans are not in short supply, but they have never been as mainstream as Roger’s and Rafa’s. The discourse, for many, should revolve around Novak’s victories, not his two predecessors’. Regularly, it feels like this is not the case. The very presence of Nadal in the crowd during the latest final acted as a reminder.

Nowhere has summed this up better than Australia. The venue where the Serbian juggernaut has thrived most should, intuitively, have produced his most cultish followers. Instead, many of his appearances have brought supporters’ reservations to the surface and occasionally spiraled into hostility.

However, this time around felt like closure.

Djokovic and his acolytes will likely never get the recognition they feel his achievements are owed, but must have taken solace in those Sunday scenes. The prevailing view amongst his critics appears to now be one of respect. Are the two camps content to meet in the middle? This might be the secret to laying the story of Novak and Melbourne to rest.

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Edward Cleaver
EDWARD CLEAVER

Edward Cleaver is a British journalist based in London, having studied at Columbia University. His interests revolve around the relationship between sports, business, and politics. Previously, he has covered MLS, NBA, pickleball, and ice hockey events, and the tennis media world.

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