Novak Djokovic believes he's overcome a huge emotional barrier after battling through his harrowing ordeal in Australia to once again be crowned a grand slam champion on the other side of the world.
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And his coach Goran Ivanisevic has saluted the Serb's charge's mental strength as "heroic", believing Djokovic's experience in detention in Australia at the start of the year might have prompted lesser individuals to quit the sport.
Djokovic made no secret about how proud he felt about his seventh Wimbledon triumph - and 21st grand slam title in all - after outplaying Nick Kyrgios over four absorbing sets in an excellent final on Sunday.
The 35-year-old couldn't help but reflect on the no-visa drama which enveloped him in Melbourne and scuppered the defence of his Australian Open crown, admitting it had taken him months to recover.
Former Wimbledon champion Ivanisevic revealed the depth of his friend's misery during that period, saying: "This win is very emotional. I can say it was a s*** year, a tough year, especially for him, but also for us that were close to him.
"For some people, they don't recover. They will never play tennis (again). This was a big shock. Was shock for me, and I was there. I was free. Imagine for him.
"Unbelievable how he recovered and how he got through that. It's really for me heroic because it was not easy to digest all the things and come back to play tennis."
Djokovic, who'd been in a detention hotel over his unvaccinated COVID-19 status and was eventually deported after a court ruling, also recalled his dark days afterwards when his form really suffered.
"Everything that followed Australia, particularly on the tournaments, has been a huge challenge and obstacle for me to overcome emotionally," Djokovic admitted.
"Once I left Australia, I left that behind me. I was ready to move on. Then it wasn't that easy to close that chapter because then I had the media and all of you guys reminding me.
"Of course, many people as well travelling around the world, some unpleasant situations as well that keep on repeating the same movie that I kind of was part of, unfortunately, in Australia.
"That has caused turbulence inside of me. I just needed time to weather the storm.
"It affected me definitely in the first several months of the year. I was not feeling great. I mean, mentally, emotionally, I was not at a good place.
"I wanted to play but, when I went out on the court in Dubai, was the first tournament of the year, I just felt so much pressure and emotions happening. I wasn't feeling myself on the court.
"I realised at that point that it's going to take some time, that I have to be patient, and sooner or later I will get myself in the state, optimal state, where I would like to be."
At Wimbledon, he found that optimal state again, his last three sets against Kyrgios rated by John McEnroe as the best he'd seen him play at SW19.
"It's a relief, considering what I've been through this year. It adds more value and more significance and more emotions," said Djokovic.
Ivanisevic, champion at the All England Club in 2001, always knew he would fight back, saying: "People like him you don't doubt. He's a great champion."
And after his triumph put him just one grand slam title behind Rafael Nadal in the 'GOAT' race, Djokovic had an ominous message for his younger pursuers, saying, "I don't feel I'm in rush really anywhere to end my career in a year or two year time or whatever it is."
Australian Associated Press
