The head of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley, wants a giant statue of Novak Djokovic built in Melbourne Park despite the fact that the Serbian star was booed from the court in its probable final appearance in the Grand Slam.
Djokovic has suffered a difficult time in Australia since he was deported and forbidden to compete under his vaccination status in 2022.
While Australia has been a happy hunting field with 10 of its 24 Grand Slam victories in Melbourne Park, Djokovic has faced Australian fans, officials and media.
First he obtained the wrath of the Australian public in 2008, when he accused fans of wanting the French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga “wins more.”
In 2021 he wrote a formal letter to the director of the tournament, Craig Tiley, asking that Covid restrictions be relieved, before his eventual deportation.
He said he was “poisoned” by Australian fans, his father was expelled from the Melbourne Park for stirring a Russian flag in the apogee of the Ukraine War and has regularly challenged and pointed to the members of the crowd.
Novak Djokovic has an Australian story story, but has won the Grand Slam a record 10 times
The head of the tournament, Craig Tiley, wants Djokovic to head a series of statues in Melbourne Park of Tennis Legends
Djokovic has had career battles with the crowd in the Australian Open over the years
He arrived at his Nadir in the 2025 tournament, when Djokovic refused to speak with the host channel of Channel nine about the comments made by veteran host Tony Jones.
When he retired in the semifinal against Alexander Zverev, he was booed outside the court.
Now Tiley wants Djokovic to appear in a variety of statues that include the greats of the game.
“I would like to have an entire enclosure full of statues of the great tennis players,” he said NOTS CORP.
'Every year we place a new statue of an Australian and this enclosure is about tennis.
'It was built with tennis in mind and we have so many people who come here from all over the world.
'They come to the enclosure when the Australian open is not on because they want to see the place where it happens.
“And I think there are more that we can offer those fans of the tennis enclosure.”
Djokovic could have played his last game at Melbourne Park after retiring injured in his semi -final against Alexander Zverev
The Spanish champion Rafael Nadal has this futuristic statue erected in his favorite tournament, the France Open
Tiley said Djokovic's record in Melbourne Park spoke for himself.
“I mean, he won this event 10 times and I still think he can win it again,” he said.
'I think that every time we can recognize the tennis or the champions of the game, I will look for it.
“Whether Novak, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, the list continues.”
Many were in favor of the proposal.
“Absolutely Djokovic is a legend in tennis,” a tennis fan published.
'He has won 10 years. Very, very few players will win 10 Grand Slams. I cannot believe that it is booed in Melbourne despite being a winner here ', another published on the social media platform X.
'It would be such a powerful symbol in many ways. There is no doubt that he deserves such a high honor, 'said another.
'Definitely. And I am a fan of all time. The Djoker needs to be celebrated in the twilight of his career, “said another.
Many tennis fans said that the notion of building a statue would probably be rejected by the Serbian champion after the treatment he had received in Australia.
'Does Australia deserve the statue of Novak? I don't believe it, 'said one.
'Yes, but it will not want one, since it has been so lacking by the media and tennis of Australia and the Government. I either blame, 'said another novak supporter.
Others said the honor should be reserved for an Australian tennis champion, not for Serbian superstar.
“He is not an Australian,” one published.
“It is certainly a game legend, yes … but a statue of an international athlete in Australia, no,” added another.
'Ash (Barty) already has one? More worthy of having an Australian, don't you think? A Fan of Australian tennis asked.
'Tiley is a deaf tone and blinded by its joke with Novak. Any Novak statue in Australia will be constantly disfigured, 'another warned.
“No, unless we are going to create statues of great past players who dominate the game and turn the sport what is today,” added another.
Despite the divisive relationship that Djokovic has with Australian fans, Tiley said that the boo in his semifinal retreat was not addressed to the Serbian star.
“I concentrated on the number of cheers we listened to when he walked on the court … I think the boo was not against Novak,” he said.
“I think it was more about the disappointment that could not see another incredible tennis game.”