Tennis

Novak Djokovic reacts after Rafael Nadal shows him the middle finger at Australian Open


Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal continued their blossoming relationship at the Rally for Relief on Wednesday and competed on the same side of the net for the first time in a doubles exhibition match. However, a gesture by the world No 1 was picked up and circulated on social media.

Nadal was captured putting his middle finger up at his team-mate in a moment of strange circumstance at the Rally for Relief.

All of the world’s top players came together to raise money for those affected by the devastating fires which have swept across Australia.

The incident was initially brushed off but former tennis professional-turn-broadcaster Todd Woodbridge asked the Serbian about the obscene gesture.

“What about the signal [laughter]?” Djokovic responded.

Woodbridge joked it was because the 33-year-old has a much better record on hard courts.

“I don’t think it went to air last night,” Woodbridge explained. “Some fancy footwork with it.

“He’s been wanting to do that for a while, I gather, particularly after the record on hard court and you beat him last week.”

But Djokovic laughed off the incident as a tactical play between the two.

“I think you have played a lot of doubles, so that is the signal that you tend to give your partner, unintentionally,” Djokovic revealed.

“It just means that you’re going to serve to the body of your opponent. But it does look awful.”

Djokovic and Nadal are the top two seeds at the Australian Open so have been placed in opposite halves of the draw.

They are both hoping to lift the trophy in a fortnight to close the gap on Federer’s Grand Slam record.

In the 2019 Australian Open final Djokovic thrashed Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 in brutal fashion and the 32-year-old ranks that as his greatest ever win.

“That was probably the best performance I have had in the finals of any Grand Slam in my career,” Djokovic added.

“I had some thrilling, exciting matches. Probably two of the most excitng finals I have been part of have been here in 2012 and that almost went six hours, the record for the longest ever finals in history.

“And then against Roger last year at Wimbledon, obviously another five-setter.

“But in terms of performance and quality of tennis, last year’s final was probably the best one I had.

“Rafa was in great form. He hadn’t dropped a set the entire tournament.

“You know, the way I was playing was just amazing. I was very proud and obviously I have been trying to remember that and kind of relive those memories.”



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