Watch: Ahead of the 2024 Australian Open, Novak Djokovic tried his hand at batting on a tennis court as well as serving to Australia’s new Test opener Steve Smith.

Ahead of the 2024 Australian Open Novak Djokovic tried his hands at various sports – all on the tennis court. He raced Commonwealth Games medalist runner Peter Bol, competed with World Cup silver medalist gymnast Georgia Godwin, and tried a hand at basketball with NBA and NBL star Alan Williams.

Djokovic also picked up a cricket bat and took guard in front of the nets against a tennis ball, which was delivered from the baseline.

The innocuous, slow delivery bounced once. Djokovic swung at it with an audible grunt, but missed the line completely, and took guard again after a unanimous call for an encore.

Before facing the ball, he fetched his tennis racquet and rested it against the net. As the bowler began his run-up, Djokovic switched his bat for the racquet, took guard, made room, and casually dispatched it over “extra cover” into a loudly cheering croud.

Watch Novak Djokovic bat on the tennis court during the Australian Open:

Is it too late to add him to the test squad?! From the sounds of it the selectors are open to trying things out…@DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/VAJq2KFShr

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

Later, he played tennis against Steve Smith, who is set to open batting for Australia for the first time in his next Test match. Smith responded to Djokovic’s serve with a seemingly casual forehand return that landed inside the court, much to the delight of the crowd.

A visibly impressed Djokovic applauded, then bowed in awe.

Watch Steve Smith return Novak Djokovic’s serve:

Game respects game!

(And Novak is just like the rest of us when it comes to Smudge…)@stevesmith49 • @DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2024 pic.twitter.com/ioL8hjVSrF

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2024

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