sport news History beckons if Novak Djokovic can shut out the noise trends now
Stefanos Tsitsipas is so loved in this part of the world that the city’s most famous Greek restaurant is selling food named after him at Melbourne Park.
And the fact that the Stef Gyro can be bought by his thousands of followers of Greek heritage here gives a pointer, perhaps strangely, as to how he might be able to topple Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final.
Djokovic remains at, or close to, the peak of his powers and has few vulnerabilities, fewer still at this venue where he has won nine times. After the events of 12 months ago, none of them would make as big a statement as his 10th. It would represent an amazing rebound from his deportation following his choice not to take a Covid jab and he will have to be admired for it.
Novak Djokovic could win his 10th Australian Open on Sunday as he takes on Stefanos Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas is heavily loved in Melbourne while Djokovic has had run-ins with supporters
If the Greek is to stop him several things must happen, one of them being his opponent feeling the significance of the occasion. As he showed in his semi-final against American Tommy Paul in the first set, the 35-year-old Serbian can get rattled by what he perceives as hostility from the crowd.
With Tsitsipas being something of the golden boy in Melbourne — due to his nationality, his flowing game and flowing mane and quirky personality — there is the chance of a partisan atmosphere developing if the challenger can get a foothold in the match.
After nearly a month back in Australia, the public have been reminded of how the Serb not only has a genius for tennis but also for attracting controversy.
Djokovic has been rattled by so called hostility from the crowd during the tournament
The Serbian has been engulfed by controversy during his month-long stay in Australia
Claims that his father’s posturing with Vladimir Putin supporters outside the Rod Laver Arena was an innocent mistake are viewed sceptically by the less ingenuous and Srdjan has form for outrageous statements. Novak is not responsible for the sins of his father, but will not thank him if he ends up playing in a hostile environment.
What the incident has actually obscured is the other main controversy around him this fortnight, which ranks ahead of his self-declared toilet break in the first week and the overhyped questions around him being ferried energy drinks on court.
That is the true extent of his hamstring injury, which has been the most
