World number one Novak Djokovic reveals that Lacoste came under pressure to terminate his contract following the Australian visa debacle. However, Lacoste refused to part ways with Djokovic and the 20-time Grand Slam champion is grateful for Lacoste’s support.
Djokovic’s stance on vaccinations and the Australian visa drama drew a lot of attention earlier this year with many curious to see how his sponsors would react. Lacoste refused to terminate his contract with Djokovic, but French carmaker Peugeot took a different path and decided to part ways with the Serb.
“There are things I can’t talk about before public statements are made,” Djokovic told Serbian reporters in Paris, according to Tennis Majors. “My main sponsors stayed with me and I appreciate it, but some sponsors I don’t have anymore.
That’s all I can say, it’s not for me to assess if someone should have stayed with me or left me.” Djokovic was very grateful for the support that Lacoste showed him and added that he is proud to represent a brand that has been in tennis for a long time.
“In particular, to Lacoste. We have been in regular contact, especially Edoardo (Artaldi, one of Djokovic’s agents), but I have spoken personally with Lacoste’s boss. They have understood the whole situation, everything that was going on.
As his world ambassador, I am important to them, but his position was not easy. They have told us that they have been under pressure from the media, from some clients who were perhaps not happy with me staying with the company,” Djokovic revealed.
“Challenges always come, so to speak, but I think they have made a good decision and I am grateful. I will try to represent the Lacoste brand as I have done so far, in the best possible way.”
Djokovic wants his 21st Grand Slam title
Speaking about his clay season and his win at the Italian Open, Novak Djokovic said that he’s historically required “time and several tournaments” to find his footing on the red dirt.
“For me, historically, it always has required some time and several tournaments to really feel comfortable playing on clay. Rarely did I feel my best on clay in the first or second tournament in the season,” Novak Djokovic said.
“Rome has been a very successful tournament for me in my career, and it was really coming at the right time. I always managed to get to the later stages of that tournament in just the week before Paris, perfect time to really find form,” he added.
