Novak Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion, expressed frustration with unruly fans during his third-round win over Tomas Machak, warning spectators not to overstep. Responding humorously to hecklers, he jested about having a wife while maintaining his competitive spirit. Despite facing crowd taunts and dealing with illness, Djokovic secured a straight-set victory (6-1, 6-4, 6-4) to reach his 17th Australian Open fourth round. He acknowledged the impact of alcohol on crowd behavior and reflected on his emotions during the match. Djokovic continues his pursuit of a historic 25th Grand Slam against Jiri Lehecka on Sunday.
Novak Djokovic has warned fans of overstepping his standards after his emotional rollercoaster ride of a mind-boggling 67th Grand Slam appearance in Week 2.
“Shut up, you idiot,” the 10-time Australian Open champion told a persistent heckler during his third-round win over Thomas Machak at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night.
But he endeared himself to the Australian crowd when he clapped back at a heckler who yelled incoherently at the Serbs during the match.
“Sorry, but I have a wife,” Djokovic joked.
“But you can drink. Maybe you’ve already had a few?”
The moment was brought up in the post-match interview, with Djokovic asking, “Should we set up a date?”
10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic engages in a running battle with the crowd
He warned that some fans were going too far in sledding after a few drinks.
“Listen, it’s nice to have a drink with him now that the match is over. We can really reflect on what we said to each other during the match,” Djokovic said.
He also blamed technology, bounced his racket in frustration and endured two medical timeouts.
But that didn’t stop him from defeating the 26th-seeded Czech 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 in a glamorous 2 hours and 22 minutes before finally reaching a familiar destination: his 17th British Open 4 Arrived at the round.
The super Serbian joins Roger Federer as the second 37-year-old to reach the last 16 at the British Open since 1988, when the tournament moved to Melbourne Park and was tied at 128.
But despite the straight-set scoreline, his path was anything but smooth.
Djokovic called in tournament doctors early in the second set due to an unknown illness and left the court before the third set for further treatment.
The seventh seed constantly begged the referee to quiet the crowd and became angry that one spectator in particular kept egging him on.
Asked if fans were starting to cross the line, Djokovic said: “Well, there aren’t many people here and there.”
There was still a lot of support for the Serbian champion, who was chasing history at the Australian Grand Slam.
Djokovic defeats Czech Republic’s Tomas Machak to advance to second week again at Melbourne Park
“I understand that if I drink a little more I get carried away, but on the court I get frustrated and have bad moments.
“If it happens repeatedly, if it goes on for an hour, if someone is in the corner saying things you don’t want to hear or constantly taunting you, then naturally you’re in a state where you just react.
“So I tried to be patient, but at some point I had to react and that was it. That’s all I can say about it.”
Djokovic is not the only player to have been abused by the crowd at Melbourne Park this week.
Briton Jack Draper complained after his five-set win over home prospect Thanasi Kokkinakis, while polarizing American Daniel Collins on Thursday night He made a cheeky “kiss my ass” gesture to the partisan crowd after eliminating Australian qualifier Destany Aiava.
“I loved her reaction. I loved everything she said on and off the court. I’ve been a big fan of Daniel Collins ever since,” Djokovic said.
“I used to be like that, but now I’m a big fan, I love it.
“I heard some comments from people saying she shouldn’t have said that or that, and I think she handled it really well.
“I don’t think I would be that polite, but I understand the feeling. So I think she was funny and smart and just a big fan of what she was doing. Big fan. Yo.”
Djokovic also questioned the electronic telephone transmitter on a tumultuous night at the British Open.
“I’m hot-headed right now,” he said after admitting that he felt anxious during the match due to his poor form and his opponent’s momentum.
“I’m not 19 anymore.
“He managed to turn things around, hold serve when he needed to, and clinch a second set that could have gone his way by a few points.”
“If we could have done that, the outcome of the game might have been different.
“Overall, I felt fresh in the third game and I think I moved really well. Overall I’m very happy with my game.
“Of course, there’s always something, but this is definitely the best game I’ve played.”
Djokovic will continue his quest for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam singles title on Sunday when he faces another seeded Czech at Jiri Rehecica.
