‘It Hurts. I’m a Human Being’: Australian Open Champion Novak Djokovic Responds To Criticism

HITTING back at his detractors and slamming the doubters, Novak Djokovic says his ninth Australian Open triumph was among the most challenging of his grand slam career.

Djokovic thumped Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 in Sunday night’s final before taking aim at his critics. The Serb was savaged pre-tournament for detailing a list of so-called quarantine demands for the 72 players holed up in hard lockdown, then accused of exaggerating an abdominal injury during his five-set third-round win over Taylor Fritz.

While admitting that the criticism had hurt him, Djokovic explained how he had developed a thick skin to block it out.

“Emotionally [this] was one of hardest tournaments I had, to be honest, with quarantine and a lot of things happening in the media,” the world No 1 told Nine.

“The letter that I wrote, ideas and recommendations that I got from players was misinterpreted as my request and