As Novak Djokovic sets his sights on an 11th Australian Open title, he faces the rising star and the World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz has confidently declared, “This one is his (Nole’s) tournament,” a nod to Djokovic’s decade-long dominance at Melbourne Park. Yet, the 37- 37-year-old’s journey in this Australian Open has been anything but smooth, marked by triumphs and controversies. Whether it is his rivalries with Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray, or fighting the media and the government, the Serbian tennis sensation’s time on Melbourne Park has always been adventurous. Let’s rewind and take a closer look at the controversial moments that have defined Djokovic’s turbulent road over the years.

Nadal vs. Djokovic- The longest Grand Slam final

Few rivalries in tennis history compare to the one between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. Over the years, the two have faced each other an astounding 60 times, creating countless iconic moments. One such clash took place during the 2012 Australian Open final. The match, which lasted a grueling 5 hours and 53 minutes, remains the longest Grand Slam final ever. Djokovic, overcome with emotion after his victory, ripped off his shirt in celebration—a gesture that didn’t sit well with everyone.

Annabel Croft later shared on Eurosport, “I do remember being on the plane coming back from Australia after Nadal lost that thriller with Djokovic. Uncle Toni said to me on the plane that the team didn’t like it when Djokovic took his shirt off to celebrate that victory in the final.” While she didn’t specify why it was poorly received, it seems Djokovic realized the backlash and hasn’t repeated such antics since.

There was another rival that apparently had a problem with the Serb’s on-court behavior.

The Andy Murray Clash:  Foes to Friends

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are now seen as allies, with Murray cheering Djokovic from the sidelines as his coach. The ex-rivals became mentor and mentee in November. Talking about this exciting partnership the Brit said, “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.”

But things were different a decade ago. During the 2015 Australian Open final, tensions ran high. Djokovic defeated Murray in four sets, but not without controversy. Murray accused Djokovic of exaggerating physical struggles during the match.

However, the Brit later clarified, “Everything has been made out to be much bigger than what it was. That happens all the time these days. In reality, you can go through periods of being very tired, then get better. You can get a second wind. As the finishing line gets closer, you can feel better. If Novak feels he has something to explain, I’d be pleased to speak with him. But I don’t feel he really needs to explain anything.”

A year later, when the 24-time Grand Slam champion came to defend his title he was again in hot water.

Novak Djokovic called ‘greedy’ by media

In 2016, Djokovic stirred the pot again, this time off the court. He reportedly encouraged players to form a union to address issues like prize money and brought in a lawyer to discuss the complexities of unionizing. Media coverage painted Djokovic as greedy and divisive, but he was quick to refute those claims.

“I saw that some of you have written a story that has been a little bit exaggerated. You’ve taken things out of the context,” Djokovic said. “I saw that you’ve portrayed me as someone who is very greedy, asks for more money, and wants to boycott. But not much of what you have written is true. What happened is that we, players, just wanted to have us players talk about certain topics.”

Despite the backlash, Djokovic co-founded the Professional Tennis Players Association (PTPA) in 2020 with Vasek Pospisil. The organization now represents the interests of singles players ranked in the top 500 and doubles players in the top 200 across ATP and WTA rankings.

The deportation saga of 2022

Perhaps the most dramatic chapter in Novak Djokovic’s career unfolded during the 2022 Australian Open. Known for his opposition to COVID-19 vaccination, Djokovic was granted an exemption to compete in a country with some of the strictest pandemic measures. Unsurprisingly, the decision caused public outrage.

Upon arrival in Melbourne, the former World No.1 was detained by the Australian Border Force for failing to meet federal COVID-19 requirements. Although a judge initially reinstated his visa, the Immigration Minister revoked it again on “public interest” grounds. A three-judge panel upheld the decision, and Djokovic was ultimately deported.

Reflecting on the incident ahead of this year’s tournament, Djokovic admitted to lingering trauma. “Some traces still stay there when I’m passing passport control, just checking out if someone from the immigration zone is approaching. The person checking my passport—are they going to take me, detain me again, or let me go? I must admit I have that feeling,” he told the Herald Sun.

2025: A new tournament, a new controversy

Even in 2025, Novak Djokovic couldn’t escape the headlines. During this year’s Australian Open, veteran broadcaster Tony Jones sparked outrage by mocking Djokovic in a live broadcast. While standing near Serbian fans, Jones sarcastically chanted, “Novak is overrated… Novak’s a has-been… Novak kick him out.”

The comments triggered widespread backlash. The 37-year-old boycotted post-match interviews with Channel Nine, Serbian fans and the tennis community condemned Jones, and the Serbian Council of Australia demanded his dismissal.

Djokovic responded saying, “A famous sports journalist who works for the official broadcaster, Channel Nine, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments toward me. Leave it to Channel Nine to handle this the way they think they see fit. That’s all.”

Jones later issued a public apology, which the Serbian tennis player accepted, paving the way for him to resume media duties with Channel Nine.

From epic rivalries and unionizing efforts to deportation and media spats, Novak Djokovic’s journey at the Australian Open has been anything but ordinary. Will he add another chapter to his Melbourne Park legacy?