Novak Djokovic found himself impressed by Steve Smith's tennis prowess during an exhibition event at Melbourne Park. The Australian cricket star showcased his skills on the court alongside the 24-time Grand Slam champion, igniting his well-known competitive spirit at Rod Laver Arena in front of the audience. As part of the charity matches leading up to the Australian Open, Smith and Australian middle-distance runner Peter Bol joined Djokovic for this special event. The Australian Open is set to commence on January 14.
Watch the video here:
Novak Djokovic playing Cricket at the Australian open.
Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) January 11, 2024
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Game respects game
#AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024
(And Novak is just like the rest of us when it comes to Smudge...)@stevesmith49 @DjokerNole #AusOpen #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/ioL8hjVSrF
Novak Djokovic delivered a soft serve directed at Steve Smith's body, prompting the Australian cricketer to showcase remarkable footwork, skillfully evading the ball and delivering a precise return that landed within the court boundaries. (IPL 2024: Josh Hazlewood To Phil Salt; 5 Unsold Players Who Can Be Bought As Backup By Teams - In Pics)
Djokovic, genuinely impressed, refrained from making another shot. The Serbian tennis star praised Smith and even bowed down in acknowledgment of the cricketer's impressive return.