Australian Open boss calls Novak Djokovic statue, but fans are divided after the shocking treatment Serbian champion received down under

Australian Open boss calls Novak Djokovic statue, but fans are divided after the shocking treatment Serbian champion received down under Serbian star has rocky relationship with Australian fans Has won 10 of his 24 grand slam titles at Melbourne Park Calls for statue has divided tennis fans in Australia By JOSH ALSTON FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 04:01, 27 January 2025 | Updated: 04:01, 27 January 2025 e-mail View comments Australian Open boss Craig Tiley wants a giant Novak Djokovic statue built at Melbourne Park despite the Serbian star being booed off the court in his likely final appearance at the grand slam. Djokovic has endured a rocky time in Australia since he was deported and banned from competing down under because of his vaccination status in 2022. While Australia has been a happy hunting ground with 10 of his 24 grand slam victories coming at Melbourne Park, Djokovic has clashed with Australian fans, officials and media.

He first earned the ire of the Australian public in 2008, when he accused fans of wanting French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to "win more". In 2021 he wrote a formal letter to tournament director Craig Tiley asking for Covid restrictions to be eased, before his eventual deportation. He has claimed he was 'poisoned' by Aussie fans , his father was kicked out of Melbourne Park for waving a Russian flag at the height of the Ukraine war and he has regularly challenged and singled out heckling crowd members.



Novak Djokovic has a chequered history in Australia but has won the grand slam a record 10 times Tournament boss Craig Tiley wants Djokovic to headline a series of statues at Melbourne Park of tennis legends Djokovic has had running battles with the crowd at the Australian Open over the years It reached its nadir at the 2025 tournament, when Djokovic refused to speak to the host broadcaster Channel Nine over comments made by veteran host Tony Jones . When he retired hurt in the semi-final against Alexander Zverev , he was booed off court. Now Tiley wants Djokovic to be featured in an array of statues that include the greats of the game.

'I'd like to have a whole precinct full of statues of the great tennis players,' he told News Corp . 'Every year we put up a new statue of an Australian and this precinct is about tennis. 'It was built with tennis in mind and we have so many people that come here from right around the world.

'They come to the precinct when the Australian Open is not on because they want to see the place that it happens. 'And I think there is more we can offer those fans from the tennis precinct.' Djokovic may have played his last match at Melbourne Park after retiring injured in his semi final against Alexander Zverev Spanish champion Rafael Nadal has this futuristic statue erected at his favourite tournament, the French Open Tiley said that Djokovic's record at Melbourne Park spoke for itself.

'I mean, he's won this event 10 times and I still think he can win it again,' he said. 'I think any time we can recognise tennis or the champions of the game I'm going to go for it. 'Whether it's Novak, Roger Federer, Serena Williams – the list goes on.

' Many were in favour of the proposal. 'Absolutely Djokovic is a legend in Tennis,' posted one tennis fan. 'He has won 10 AOs.

Very very very few players will win 10 grand slams. I can't believe he gets booed in Melbourne despite being such a winner here,' another posted on social media platform X. 'It would be such a powerful symbol in so many ways.

There's no question he is deserving of such high honour,' posted another. 'Definitely. And I am an all time Nadal fan.

The Djoker needs to be celebrated in the twilight of his career,' said yet another. Plenty of tennis fans said that the notion of building a statue would likely be rejected by the Serbian champion after the treatment he had received in Australia. 'Does Australia deserve the statue of Novak? I don't think so,' one posted.

'Yes but he won't want one as he has been so disrespected by the Australian media and Tennis Australia and the government. I don't blame him either,' suggested another Novak supporter. Others said the honour should be reserved for an Australian tennis champion, not the Serbian superstar.

'No way he isn't an Aussie,' one posted. 'He's undoubtedly a legend of the game, yes..

. but a statue of an international athlete in Australia, no,' added another. 'Has Ash [Barty] got one yet?? More deserving to have an Australian don't you think?' asked an Aussie tennis fan.

'Tiley is tone deaf and blinded by his bromance with Novak. Any statue of Novak in Australia will be constantly defaced,' warned another. 'Not unless we're going to also create statues of past great players that dominated the game and built the sport into what it is today,' added yet another.

Despite the divisive relationship Djokovic has with Australian fans, Tiley said the booing in his semi-final withdrawal was not directed at the Serbian star. 'I focused on the amount of cheering we heard when he walked on the court..

.I think the booing was not against Novak,' he said. 'I think it was more about the disappointment they wouldn't get to see another unbelievable set of tennis.

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