Watch: Novak Djokovic sings 'Happy Birthday' for his mother after QF win at Australian Open 2023

The Serbian has qualified for the semis of the prestigious grand slam for a record time.

After routing Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open 2023, the 9-time champion down under Novak Djokovic sang happy birthday to his mother during the post-match interview. The Russian was utterly outclassed in the great’s 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 victory.

The 35-year-old Serb was absolutely relentless in the match, blowing the Russian youngster away in straight sets. While talking to Jim Courier, the interviewer, Djokovic brought out his candid side. He spoke about a broad spectrum of subjects from the breeze on the court, his time recovering, his record in the semifinals in the Australia Open to tennis missing Roger Federer. However, the crowning moment of the interview was when he chose to wish his mother happy birthday by singing the last two lines of the birthday song. The audience also chimed in to wish Dijana Đoković, who was in the stands, although her birthday was the day prior. 

It all started with the Courier, a former no. 1 himself, asked Djokovic how he has managed to recover from his leg injury. While thanking the bio-technological devices that he has used, Djokovic also thanked Claudio Zimaglia, his physio, who had his birthday today. While wishing him in front of the already engaged crowd, Novak Djokovic took the opportunity to wish his mother with the song. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riuxdDoC8LQ

The 21-time grand slam champion said that he is happy with his game, calling it his second-best performance of the current year. "I’ve done my second-best game so far this year after the one two nights ago against Alex de Minaur”, said Djokovic.

The video has gone viral on the internet

“The Joker '' has an exceptional record at Melbourne Park losing only thrice in the last decade. The 25-year-old Rublev was Djokovic’s 26th consecutive victim. With this, Novak has joined his former coach Andre Agassi in the record books. Agassi was unbeaten between 2000 and 2004, and similarly, Djokovic has also been unbeaten in the Rod Laver Arena since 2018. 

From the very beginning, Djokovic kept Rublev out of the game with venomous returns. Using his experience in the windy conditions, the Serb blew Rublev away to join American Tommy Paul in the semi-finals to clinch his 10th title down under. 

The hard court specialist also reminisced about his first semi-finals in the 2007 US Open against David Ferrer. "I think it was the US Open back in 2007. It seems quite a long time ago. But yeah. I was fortunate to win that semifinals. You know, in the finals, I lost to Roger," he said.

Novak Djokovic then went on to remember the retired Legend and said, "Ya. Let’s give a big round of applause to Roger, guys! Let’s go. He deserves it. I had some great battles over the years with Roger, that’s for sure, you know. Tennis misses him for sure."