Oops! Novak Djokovic sponsor jumps gun in Australian Open promo gaffe

Dubai: Novak Djokovic may be unbeaten in Australian Open finals, but a sponsor seemed to think he’s already won this year’s - before he’s even played it. Ahead of the eight-time champion’s clash with Daniil Medvedev on Sunday, his racquet sponsor Head offered its congratulations in a promotional email.

“Congratulations Novak,” said the email, posted on Twitter by tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg, which described Djokovic as a “record-breaking 9 time Australian Open champion”. The gaffe was quickly rectified. “Oops - we got ahead of ourselves!” a follow-up email said. “What we meant to say is... Good luck Novak in the 2021 Australian Open Final.”

The mistake is perhaps understandable, with top-ranked Djokovic’s eight titles already a record at the Australian Open. However, Russia’s Medvedev takes a 20-match winning streak into the Melbourne final, where he is seeking his first major title.