Novak Djokovic is back at the Australian Open to defend his title this year, and he demonstrated a clear intolerance for any disruptions from the fans.
During his Second Round match against Alexei Popyrin, a spectator at Melbourne Park reportedly attempted to heckle Djokovic. The 10-time Australian Open champion, not willing to tolerate the disturbance, made it evident between points.
Djokovic walked to the edge of the stands, challenging the fan to come down, prompting others in the stands to express their disapproval of the interruption by booing the individual.
Despite the distraction, Djokovic remained unfazed and went on to defeat Popyrin in four sets (6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3).
Apologizing for the incident, one user commented, “As an Aussie sports tragic, I apologize for some of our bogans; the d head didn’t realize, but he just signed Popryns loss as soon as he stirred Novak.”
Another user remarked, “Simple fact: If you want Novak to win, boo him.”
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Expressing disappointment in the crowd’s behavior, a third user wrote, “The crowds need to do better. Shameful if a player has to contend with an unruly crowd.”
In the upcoming Third Round of the Australian Open, Djokovic is set to face Tomás Martín Etcheverry. The incident underscores the importance of respectful behavior from fans, who generally have good access to players at tennis matches.
