Ben & Liam managed to squeeze in a cheeky tennis session with Novak Djokovic despite quarantine this week.
With the Australian Open growing closer, a lot of international tennis stars have been quarantining in Adelaide while they wait.
Nova 919 breakfast boys Ben & Liam weren’t going to have the likes of Djokovic in their city and not try to catch up with him.
With quarantine presenting a big issue though, they had to get clever. The pair concocted a sly plan to play tennis with the legend, right outside of his hotel.
After their show, they put on their finest tennis whites and headed to Tynte Street for a hilarious tennis match. Luckily, Djokovic fancied a laugh and came onto his balcony to take in their tennis ‘skills’.
After observing Ben & Liam’s abilities, the world number one decided to show them how it’s done and started firing some volleys with his coach on the balcony.
Ben & Liam clearly appreciated the effort: they offered to change the name of their radio station from Nova 919 to Novak 919 (not a big stretch), and Djokovic was all too happy to accept.
“Yes, I’m expecting to see the ‘K’ right there…!” he exclaimed.
Ben & Liam were clearly elated: “Honestly this has been one of our favourite radio moments so far… No Djoke. Forget about Leyton Hewitt, our new favourite tennis player is Novak Djokovic (Unless Leyton plays some tennis with us anytime soon).”
We can excuse the lame ‘Djoke’ pun but the Lleyton Hewitt comment? That sounds like blasphemy in Australia lads.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Australian Open has not been without controversy, with Djokovic himself at the centre of it all. He was criticised for sending an open letter to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley with a list of requests to help out his fellow players to prepare for the tournament.
More than 70 players, coaches, and staff have been forced into a strict 14-day quarantine with no permission to train after positive coronavirus cases were detected on their flights to Australia.
Djokovic was blasted as being selfish and privileged but he was quick to clarify his stance, as per Yahoo. “My good intentions for my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misconstrued as being selfish, difficult and ungrateful. This couldn’t be farther from the truth,” he wrote.
“I genuinely care about my fellow players and I also understand very well how the world is run and who gets bigger and better and why.
“I’ve earned my privileges the hard way and for that reason it is very difficult for me to be a mere onlooker knowing how much every help, gesture and good word mattered to me when I was small and insignificant in the world pecking order.
“Hence I use my position of privilege to be of service as much as I can where and when needed.”
The Australian Open is scheduled to begin on Monday, February 8th.
