Novak Djokovic teams up with Instagram pianist Lola Astanova for US Open ‘We Are The Champions’
27 August 2019, 11:08 | Updated: 27 August 2019, 11:11
Novak Djokovic gives what appears to be a storming performance of Queen’s ‘We Are The Champions’ on the piano… but all is not as it seems.
Novak Djokovic appears to play ‘We Are The Champions’ on the piano, in a video captioned by his piano teacher: “And this is just after one lesson!”.
But as the camera pans out, it becomes clear the musical talent is all in the hands of his duet partner, Uzbek-American pianist Lola Astanova.
Astanova posted the video on Instagram with the caption: “And this is just after one [piano] lesson! Honestly I don’t think this song ever sounded more appropriate.”
She later added: “Well done! Don’t forget to do your homework.”
The Serbian tennis star, who has won 16 grand slams, mimes (soz for blowing your cover, Djokovic) the particularly apt song as he looks to defend his US Open title. Filmed at Steinway & Sons, the video now has over 200,000 views.
Djokovic, currently ranked No. 1 in men’s singles, replied to the video: “Thank you professor @lolaastanova”.
Boris Becker, who coached Djokovic for three years, also commented on the viral video, saying: “Lots of talent in the room playing.”
Lola, a pianist known for her interpretations of Chopin, studied at the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory.
She is now one of the most-followed classical musicians on Instagram, with more than 700,000 followers (that’s more than twice as many as Lang Lang!).
Astanova and Djokovic first met in March. The pianist described the tennis star as “kind, humble, compassionate, curious and caring” in a post on Instagram the following morning.
“For all of Novak’s truly extraordinary accomplishments as an athlete, he is an even more impressive human being. Novak, thank you for being an inspiration, and it is an honour to call you my friend!”
Djokovic is through to the next round of the US Open, and looks to be on a winning streak since beating Roger Federer in a five-set victory at Wimbledon.
And he isn’t the only tennis star to dabble in pianism – Federer recently played Bach in a Uniqlo ad.
