Australian Open boss calls for Novak Djokovic statue, but fans are divided after the shocking treatment Serbian champion received down under
Australian Open boss calls for Novak Djokovic statue, but fans are divided after the shocking treatment Serbian champion received down under
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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.
![[Tournament boss Craig Tiley wants Djokovic to headline a series of statues at Melbourne Park of tennis legends]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/27/03/94546863-14328315-image-a-30_1737950095121.jpg)
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".
![[Djokovic has had running battles with the crowd at the Australian Open over the years]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/27/03/94546909-14328315-image-a-31_1737950098879.jpg)
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.
![[Djokovic may have played his last match at Melbourne Park after retiring injured in his semi final against Alexander Zverev]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/27/03/94546855-14328315-image-a-32_1737950109276.jpg)
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.
![[Spanish champion Rafael Nadal has this futuristic statue erected at his favourite tournament, the French Open]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/27/03/94546879-14328315-image-a-33_1737950115094.jpg)
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