Glaring absence overhangs Djokovic heroics

Novak Djokovic's dada was a glaring absentee from Rod Laver Arena arsenic the Serbian champion stormed to victory astatine the Australian Open connected Sunday night.

Srdjan steered wide of the limelight aft posing for photographs with Vladimir Putin supporters.

He was pictured with spectators holding a Russian emblem featuring Putin's look pursuing Djokovic's quarter-final triumph implicit Andrey Rublev connected Wednesday night.

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Novak Djokovic's begetter was absent arsenic the champion charged toward his 10th Australian Open title. (Getty)

A commonly held presumption aft the emergence of footage was that Srdjan said "long unrecorded the Russians", but Djokovic and Serbian journalists person claimed that translation was incorrect.

Srdjan insisted that helium thought helium was greeting Djokovic supporters, not pro-Putin activists.

Tennis Australia main enforcement Craig Tiley backed Djokovic's father.

"I deliberation there's been immoderate misinterpretation astir what Djokovic's dada did and immoderate incorrect reporting connected what helium said," Tiley said.

"I americium of the presumption that it would person been amended if helium (Djokovic senior) wasn't successful that situation.

"But helium had each time been going retired to the Serbian assemblage (outside centre court) and congratulating them for coming and supporting his son. And that's just enough, right?

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"That's what's large astir the Australian Open. There's a batch of vigor and radical person a bully time.

"And it was conscionable a fewer individuals successful that radical that ruined it for everyone, and they've since been removed from the tract and are not allowed back.

"The things that I work that was claimed helium had said is what helium indicated helium did not say, and I judge him."

Djokovic clinched a record-extending 10th Australian Open rubric connected Sunday night.

He besides equalled Rafael Nadal's grounds people of 22 expansive slam crowns.

The 35-year-old volition pinch the satellite No.1 mantle from 19-year-old Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz erstwhile the ATP rankings are recalculated connected Monday.

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Australian Open 2023 successful pictures: Hilarious item successful Novak Djokovic's overgarment proves ruthless mentality