Looking ahead to Tuesday's titanic quarterfinal match between Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, Pat Rafter summed up the general sentiment: 'I think Novak is in a pretty good mental situation. He's kind and angry. He likes being angry.'
To briefly summarize why the 10-time Australian Open champion is angry: On Friday, Australian television host Tony Jones was broadcasting from Melbourne Park for Channel 9 in front of a crowd of chanting Djokovic fans. He made a mime of turning to them and singing: “Novak's a loser, he's overrated, throw him out.”
On Sunday night, after his fourth-round match, Djokovic refused to grant an on-court interview, later explaining that he would not do so until he received a public apology from Jones and/or Channel 9.
That apology came on Monday morning, live on Jones Channel 9, and the Djokovic camp confirmed that would be the end of the matter.
But the Serbian Council of Australia has gone a step further and written to the Human Rights Commission accusing Jones of discrimination and demanding his dismissal.
The usual suspects piled into X, with Elon Musk, Piers Morgan and Nick Kyrgios supporting Djokovic.
Pat Rafter thinks Novak Djokovic is 'nice and angry' ahead of their quarter-final showdown
The Serbian will face the future face of tennis, Carlos Alcaraz, in this Tuesday morning's clash
Alcaraz reached the quarterfinals after Jack Draper was forced to retire in the final round.
What a fuss. In his apology, Jones claimed that he had already privately apologized to Djokovic's team on Saturday and offered to meet him in person, so couldn't the matter have been left there?
Was it really necessary for the greatest tennis player of all time to get involved with Australia's answer to Richard Keys?
Djokovic may have the skin of a rhino to absorb his opponents' forehands and backhands, but when it comes to perceived insults, he has skin as thin as a baby kangaroo.
The ten-time champion would have done well to follow Danielle Collins' example. Jones called the American a “brat” after her “kiss my ass” celebrations in front of a booing Australian crowd. Collins, as she did all week, laughed at the insult and demanded that Jones perform a viral dance to singer Charlie XCX's 'Brat' album.
That seemed the appropriate level of response for a man who has cut a ridiculous figure this fortnight; more appropriate than Djokovic reading his statement as if he were addressing the United Nations.
Since Jones has apologized, hopefully this matter will remain like water under the nearby Swan Street Bridge. But its relevance remains in the fact that, as former Wimbledon finalist Rafter suggested, all this angst will serve Djokovic's mill for the rest of the event.
The Serbian has always struggled to achieve the same adoration as Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal. For many years he seemed desperate to win the love of the tennis public, but of late he has tended to fight the crowd, greedily absorbing any perceived slights and using them to fuel the fire of his incomparable competitive spirit.
The truth is that Djokovic is not unpopular here in Melbourne. He is respected as a ten-time champion and fans are embracing his quest to take on the boys, with his old rival Andy Murray by his side.
Meanwhile, Djokovic beat Jiri Lehecka in straight sets to reach this year's quarterfinals.
At just 21 years old, Alcaraz is looking to become the youngest player in history to complete a career Grand Slam, as he chases his first major at this year's Australian Open.
It also has a legion of Serbian-Australian fans at every match. After the Commonwealth Blue, the Serbian tricolor is the most popular flag here and, over the years, it has felt almost like Djokovic's home slam.
But he had a couple of fights with the crowd last week and then this Jones saga: Djokovic plays best when under siege and, if necessary, he will build the battering rams and catapults himself.
After his fourth-round victory against Holger Rune at Wimbledon last year, Djokovic decided that the spectators' chants of 'Ruuuuuune' were actually boos directed at him. “Have a very good night,” he told a bewildered crowd of central Englanders. “You guys can't touch me.”
One man who can certainly give Djokovic a run for his money is young Alcaraz, who has won three of their seven matches so far.
After contesting four finals and three semi-finals, these intergenerational rivals will meet for the eighth time at an earlier stage of the tournament.
They are both chasing history here in Melbourne. Alcaraz, 21, is looking to win this title for the first time, along with his Wimbledon, Roland Garros and US Open trophies, and thus become the youngest player in history to complete the career Grand Slam.
Djokovic, 37, is seeking his 11th title here and 25th major, which would lift him above Margaret Court in the all-time rankings.
One of those missions will come to a premature end Tuesday morning, and it's not easy to guess which one.
Djokovic, 37, is looking to extend his record with his 11th title here in Australia and a 25th career major.
Heading into Tuesday's match, the pair's head-to-head record is 4-3 in favor of Djokovic.
Djokovic emerged victorious in their last meeting in the singles final at the Paris Olympics last summer.
Both men are in good condition. Alcaraz has produced his usual explosion of shots and, although his concentration has wavered, he has a tendency to lock in against better opponents.
Djokovic was shaky in his first two rounds, but excellent in the third and fourth. And, of course, he has one of the great minds in tennis at his entire disposal. Murray has cut a calm figure in his courtside group, providing various advice, but now it's time to really earn his crust.
Yesterday at Melbourne Park/Monday, favorite Sinner survived illness and 33oC heat to beat Holger Rune in four sets. Sinner said he felt dizzy and his hands visibly shook during shifts. He was given extra recovery time with a 20-minute delay to repair the screw holding the net in place.
On the women's side, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina defeated Veronika Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1. Svitolina is now undefeated in seven matches against Russia since the invasion and wrote “Spirit of Ukraine” on camera after her victory. In the quarterfinals she will face the American Madison Keys, seeded number 19, who defeated Elena Rybakina in three sets.