Ash Barty played a straight bat when asked about Novak Djokovic’s temper tantrum in Tokyo
Ash Barty played a straight bat when asked about Novak Djokovic’s temper tantrum in Tokyo
Djokovic lost his cool during a defeat to Pablo Carreno Busta in the men’s singles bronze medal match. The world No. 1 hurled his racquet into empty stands in disgust at one point and smashed it at another stage, bringing back memories of his disqualification from last year’s US Open when he struck a ball that hit a line official in the throat.
Barty and John Peers won bronze in the mixed doubles when Djokovic pulled out before the match citing a shoulder issue, meaning he and Serbian partner Nina Stojanovic didn’t take the court to fight for a medal.
When asked for their thoughts on Djokovic’s singles outburst in a press conference on Sunday, Barty and Peers both dead-batted the question.
“I think you’ll have to ask him that one. Obviously he’s been through a lot over the last month or two but that’s certainly a question for him more than us,” Barty said.
Peers added: “I think you’ve just got to ask Novak those questions. We can’t speak to what he’s going through.”
Speaking more broadly about the pressures faced by athletes.Barty said every individual is different and couldn’t compare her situation to Djokovic, who has won all three grand slam titles this year. He’s seeking a historic clean sweep of all the majors at the US Open, but his dream of a Golden Slam. All four majors and Olympic gold – has been dashed.
Barty couldn’t put herselves in Djokovic’s shoes, but revealed how she copes with the pressures of being world No. 1.
“I think everyone’s in a unique circumstance. Everyone goes through different feelings and different pressures on the court,” Barty said.
“She said, i know Novak is certainly in a league above myself as to what he’s aiming for. He’s aiming for the Grand Slam this year, it hasn’t been done since Rod Laver a long time ago. So I think that’s pretty special what he’s going for.
And hard for me to comment on what he’s feeling just generally because I don’t know what that feels like.
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