“I don’t want to be experiencing that” – Djokovic irked again by heckling crowd member

The Serb remonstrated with a member of the late-night Melbourne crowd during the fourth and final set of his hard-fought victory over home hope Alexei Popyrin

Novak Djokovic (Icon SMI/Panoramic)

Jamie Malachy

January 17, 2024

Australian Open •Second round • completed

See draw

N. DjokovicvsA. Popyrin

It would be something of an understatement to say that Novak Djokovic is no stranger to confrontations with members of a partisan tennis crowd.

Indeed, his career has been defined as much by his tempestuous relationships with tennis audiences around the world as it has by his record-breaking success. Not only has the 24-time Grand Slam champion learnt to deal with the adversity of a hostile crowd over his many years on tour, he has actively used it as a highly effective added tool with which to win tennis matches.

It is a lesson that has never been learnt by Djokovic’s detractors – goad him at your peril, as there is no more dangerous sportsperson on the planet than the 10-time Australian Open champion with a crowd against him.

Such was the case yet again during his testing second-round victory over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin at Melbourne Park, as comments made by a member of the crowd riled Djokovic enough to lead to a remonstration between himself and the spectator.

“I’m not going to sit and say it’s all good. It’s not good. Of course, it upsets me. I’m frustrated. I don’t want to be experiencing that, but I have to accept it as it is,” the world No 1 said of the incident in his post-match press conference.

djokovic once again uses confrontation with crowd to his advantage

While Djokovic had already successfully navigated the most perilous moments of the match, leading by two sets to one when the altercation occurred, it is difficult to ignore that the remonstration with the unruly crowd member seemed to provide the fire Djokovic needed to finish off a match throughout which he had looked fatigued and flat.

It is a tale as old as time for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, and a key ingredient in his ability to reach an unparalleled tally of major titles.

That does mean that, when it does happen, it is not unwelcome.

“Sometimes I don’t tolerate when somebody crosses the line. That’s it. That’s what happened. People have a few drinks… I guess late at night as well, that probably also has an effect on how they feel and behave,” Djokovic added.

😬🇦🇺 Djokovic getting heckled by an idiot in the crowd, Novak: “Come down and say it to my face”pic.twitter.com/dsivnMp0Tl
— Olly 🎾🇬🇧 (@Olly_Tennis_) January 17, 2024

“That’s okay. People pay tickets to come and watch us. They want to see the show. They want to have fun. They’re allowed to do that.

“There’s no issue in terms of I never asked anyone to leave the stadium. I never asked the chair umpire to take somebody out. I wouldn’t do that because he paid his ticket, and he has the right to be there and say what he wants to say and behave how he wants to behave.

“But if somebody crosses the line, I’m going to take it to him, as I did to this guy, ask him if he wants to come closer and tell me what he wants to tell me. Offend me, insult me as he did.

“That’s all it is. He was not really keen on coming down. That’s what it was.”

lingering resentments no bad thing for novak in melbourne

Due to Djokovic’s record-breaking success at Melbourne Park, and in a city with such a large Serbian community, the Australian Open crowd has historically been relatively warm towards their 10-time champion.

But it is worth remembering that only 24 months ago the world No 1 endured the nadir of his career in Melbourne as he was deported from Australia following the debacle around his vaccination status.

Perhaps some of those lingering resentments are still hanging in the air, given what a seismic and highly-charged turn of events it was.

Even if they are, however, it will do Djokovic no harm to find cause to be aggrieved – especially if he is still searching for optimal fitness and form during these often pesky early rounds at Melbourne Park.