Novak Djokovic will open the curtain and take fans behind-the-scenes of his show-stopping run to his ninth Australian Open title.
After conquering Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 to remain undefeated in Melbourne finals and collect his 18th career Grand Slam championship, Djokovic announced a documentary film chronicling his run is in the works.
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The top seed says the documentary will detail his recovery from a torn oblique muscle he suffered in his five-set third-round AO win over American Taylor Fritz. Djokovic suggested when people see the documentary it may quiet criticism from skeptics who suggested his injury was not as severe as originally thought.
"I know there's been a lot of speculations, people questioning whether I'm injured, how can I recover so quickly, it's impossible to do that. I get it," Djokovic said. "I mean, look, everyone is entitled for their own opinion, and everybody has the freedom and the right to say what they want, criticize others. I just felt like it was a bit unfair at times. But, hey, it's not the first nor the last time.
"What we have done in the past nine, ten days, you'll get a chance to see in details probably end of this year when the documentary comes out. I've been filming a lot of things that I've been doing here, but also in the previous months, six months. We're planning to take that documentary out end of this year. You will be able to see more of the routine of recovery, stuff that was going on behind the curtain."
The 33-year-old Serbian concedes ongoing criticism he's received hurts, but completing his second AO three-peat is the ultimate answer to his critics.
"I mean, some of the things that some people say, of course, it does come across here and there when you're watching a tennis match, commentary, someone mentions it, whatever. In some way or another it comes to you," Djokovic said. "Of course, it's not nice to hear that. I mean, it also seems unfair from some people that kind of criticize and judge without really checking before. But as I said, it's not really the first time. I have so much experience with this because it happened so many times in my life, in my career, that I experience that. It will probably not be the last one.
"Look, at the end of the day everyone who has the stage has the right to say what they want to say. It's a matter on my side whether I'm going to react or not, in which way I'm going to react. I didn't allow it to hinder my performance. I think winning the trophy is in a way my answer."
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