The Australian Open finals between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina -- the first Grand Slam of the season -- will air on ESPN.

At this moment of majesty for tennis, for sport, for all those who still fancied a tilt at athletic glory deep in their fourth decades, you might have expected Novak Djokovic’s coach to lead the celebrations.

The Australian Open is usually heated because of the Melbourne sun, but this year, the temperature is rising off the court thanks to a spicy war of words involving Novak Djokovic.