Former Australia Test opener David Warner poked fun at his successor Steve Smith as the star exchanged his bat for a racket. Smith was seen taking the court alongside tennis maestro and world number one Novak Djokovic at a charity event ahead of AUS vs WI series and the Australian Open 2024.
‘where is the smudge Wilson racquet he loves so much‘ David Warner wrote below a video of the newly appointed Australia opener tagging partner Usman Khawaja.
Recognized predominantly for his cricket achievements, Steve Smith surprised onlookers by flawlessly returning one of Djokovic’s serves on Centre Court. Even the seasoned tennis champion acknowledged Smith’s skills, bowing down in admiration amidst resounding applause from the enthusiastic crowd.
Meanwhile, as the defending champion at the Australian Open, Djokovic is gearing up for his opening match against a qualifier or lucky loser, with potential matchups against Australian contenders Marc Polmans or Alexei Popyrin in the subsequent rounds. Djokovic, boasting three major victories in the previous season, enters the tournament on a remarkable 28-match winning streak at the season’s inaugural major, securing a total of 24 major titles.
Simultaneously, Steve Smith is preparing for the upcoming home Test series against the West Indies, commencing on January 17. In a strategic move following David Warner’s retirement from Test cricket, Smith is poised to open the innings, forming a compelling partnership with Usman Khawaja and introducing an intriguing dimension to Australia’s Test line-up.