Novak Djokovic began his 2026 Australian Open campaign with a dominant victory, but it was his peculiar post-match chat that truly captured attention at Melbourne Park.
Straight-Sets Win Overshadowed by Unusual Exchange
The Serbian tennis legend, chasing an 11th Australian Open title, dispatched Spain's Pedro Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in a commanding first-round performance on 19 January 2026. This marked his 100th career win at the Melbourne Grand Slam, a formidable milestone in his quest for further history.
However, the routine nature of the match gave way to a decidedly unconventional on-court interview. The conversation took a strange turn when the interviewer, after showing highlights of a younger Djokovic removing his shirt to crowd applause, remarked on the player's physique.
'I Wish I Could Bring Back That Body'
"You said you've taken care of your mind and your body, you've certainly taken care of your body, that's pretty impressive," the interviewer stated, before asking, "Is that one per cent body fat?"
Djokovic responded with a mix of humour and nostalgia: "I wish I could bring back that body to be honest." After the interviewer quipped "Don't we all," the 38-year-old clarified his reasoning. "Not for the beach, not for the looks, but for the functionality on the court, it served me well. I'm happy with my body so far, although things are different 15 years later."
The 'Can I Speak?' Moment
The interview then became momentarily disjointed as the interviewer's microphone drifted away. Seizing the moment with characteristic alertness, Djokovic interjected, "Can I keep on speaking?"
He followed with a playful jab: "I'm speaking about my body so I get excited." When the interviewer returned with "I'm getting excited," Djokovic was quick to shut down any misunderstanding. "No," he said firmly. "No, no, no. Actually, thank you but no. Speaking of which, did I say I liked my body?"
Insight Into Sustained Success
Beyond the odd banter, Djokovic provided genuine insight into the philosophy behind his enduring career. "I always give my best whenever I'm on the court," he affirmed.
He highlighted the motivational power of making history, especially in the latter stages of his career. "Once I got myself in a position where I could eventually create history, obviously I was even more inspired to play the best tennis and that's what I've done."
Crediting early guidance, Djokovic explained his longevity: "I was very fortunate early on in my career to encounter some people who taught me and guided me to play the long shot... to take care of my body and my mind and try to have as long a career as possible. I'm blessed to be still playing at this level and another win tonight here is obviously a dream come true."
The 2026 Australian Open is being broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports, available via Prime Video's TNT Sports channel.
