MELBOURNE: Top seed Novak Djokovic played cricket with Jackson Warne, the son of late Australian cricketer Shane Warne on the eve of the Australian Open 2024.
Defending champion Djokovic was full cheer as he took Stefanos Tsitsipas in an Australian Open charity match.
The Serb invited notable Australian sports personalities to the event including seasoned cricketer Steve Smith.
Novak Djokovic and Steve Smith also played cricket together, the Tennis star bowled a length delivery to Smith, which he effortlessly deposited into a jam-packed crowd.
The Serb then asked to bat and Warne bowled him a loopy delivery which he failed to connect.
Novak Djokovic then humorously sneaked one of his rackets and put it just behind himself as he was ready to face the second delivery bowled by Jackson Warne.
However, as soon as Warne released the ball, Djokovic threw the bat away, quickly grabbed his racket and easily connected the ball, which sailed way into the electric crowd.
Is it too late to add him to the test squad?! From the sounds of it the selectors are open to trying things out…@DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/VAJq2KFShr
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
Djokovic also interacted with other sports personalities and played Basketball, wheelchair Tennis and had a friendly race with Australian middle-distance runner Peter Bol.
Race again in Paris?
@DjokerNole v @pbol800
#AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/jXgTyzhhbE
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel
It is worth mentioning here that Novak Djokovic will start his Australian Open campaign on Thursday as he took either a qualifier or a lucky loser.
If the 24-time Gland Slams winner made it to the third round, he could meet fellow Grand Slam champion Andy Murray.
Djokovic has been in red-hot form and is favourite to win his 11th Australian Open title. However, he must defy his wrist injury, which resulted in him coping with an upset 6-4, 6-4 loss to Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals of the United Cup in Perth.
READ: Novak Djokovic could face Andy Murray in Australian Open third round
The post WATCH: Novak Djokovic plays cricket at Australian Open’s eve appeared first on ASports.tv.
from A Sports | Cricket Live Score, Rankings, Fixtures and Results https://ift.tt/1cklrAj