Novak Djokovic challenges Australian Open fan in fiery exchange: Come here and tell me to my face
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Novak Djokovic was involved in a furious exchange with a fan during his Australian Open second round match against local favorite Alexei Popyrin.
The spectator, who appeared to be inebriated, fired several insults in the Serbian’s direction from one of the Rod Laver Arena’s backdrops with the score deadlocked at 2-2 in the fourth set.
His constant heckling throughout the match had irritated Djokovic, who finally addressed him with a challenge as he gestured to the fan to step onto the court to speak with him.
“If you are so brave to say this to me from the stands, come here and say it to my face,” the 36-year-old said.
“People are free to behave how they want, because that’s why they buy a ticket. But if you cross the line, I respond.”
After the match, Djokovic appeared to have calmed down as he addressed the incident with the drunken fan.
“Maybe he had one glass too many,” he said. “I’ve never stopped a match to ask a referee to send off a spectator, but there are limits.”
Djokovic shakes off row to edge past Popyrin
While Djokovic is used to having the crowd boo him, especially for his past endeavors when he was defaulted at the 2020 US Open, it was clear they were on his side as they jeered the fan for their actions.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner has not had an easy start to his campaign to win a record ninth title in Melbourne and that was reflected in his match against Popyrin.
After being taken to four sets by 18-year-old Dino Prizmic in round one, Djokovic followed a similar pattern in Melbourne. He took the opening set before the Australian fought back to level the match at 1-1 by breaking the Serbian in the second.
But Djokovic turned up his level at the right time, edging the tiebreak in the third set before sealing his passage to the third round with a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3 victory at the Rod Laver Arena.
The eight-time champion will face No.30 seed Tomas Etcheverry on Saturday as the world number one bids to win an unprecedented 25th Major.
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