Djokovic Tolerates Harrison’s Boasts Then Wins 6-1, 6-2, 6-3

Written by: Staff on 16th January 2013

Djokovic Tolerates Harrison’s Boasts Then Wins 6-1, 6-2, 6-3

epa03538779 Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his match against Ryan Harrison of USA, round two of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 16 January 2013. EPA/DAVID CROSLING AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

Novak Djokovic is more than tolerant of past empty boasts from young American Ryan Harrison, whom he schooled in straight sets in their Australian Open second-round match. The world No. 1 Serb need only hark back to his own early days to recall that big talk was all part of the learning process.

Harrison may fancy himself as the next-gen of American players in the post-Roddick era. In fact, he’s being “coached” from an Austin sofa as the newly-retired Roddick watches the Open unfold, occasionaly tweeting his pithy thoughts on all and sundry.

But so far, hothead Harrison, often best-known for racquet-smashing, has yet to get past the third round of a Grand Slam.

“When I was his age, you have to in a way have confidence in yourself and try to set up a high goal, because that’s something that inspires you always to practice, to work hard,”said Djokovic.

“I don’t see anything wrong in having high ambitions and goals. Why not? I’m sure that a super majority of the players here in this Grand Slam or in the top 100, if not everybody, wants to be best in what they do. Somebody admits it, somebody doesn’t.

“At the end of the day, you have to have respect for the sport and for your opponents, and just take it step by step, I guess. He knows the best what he really wants inside of him. It’s a matter of, as I said, self belief, putting a lot of hours and a lot of matches on the tour.”

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Topics: Australian Open, Grand Slam, Novak Djokovic, Ryan Harrison, Sports, Tennis