Novak Djokovic launched an expletive-laden outburst at a heckler during his Australian Open third-round victory, telling the spectator to “shut the f**k up, you f***ing idiot”.
The 10-time Australian Open champion was visibly frustrated by crowd behaviour during his match against Tomas Machac at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night.
The seventh seed repeatedly pleaded with the umpire to quieten the crowd, showing particular irritation at one spectator’s persistent goading.
However, Djokovic showed his lighter side when responding to another disruptive fan, quipping: “Sorry mate, I have a wife. We can have a drink though. Maybe you’ve had a few already?”
Novak Djokovic launched an expletive-laden outburst at a heckler during his Australian Open third-round victory, telling the spectator to “shut the f**k up, you f***ing idiot”
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The Serbian maintained his humorous approach in the post-match interview when asked about setting up a date with the heckler.
“I’m happy to have a drink with him now that the match is over, we can reflect nicely on what we’ve said to each other during the match,” Djokovic said.
Despite the heated exchanges, Djokovic secured a straight-sets victory over the Czech 26th seed, winning 6-1 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 22 minutes.
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Novak Djokovic after beating Machac at Australian Open
*someone yells from the crowd*
Novak: “Sorry mate. I have a wife. We can have a drink though 😂. Maybe you’ve had a few already.” 💀
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 17, 2025
The match was not without its challenges, as Djokovic required two medical timeouts – one for an unspecified illness early in the second set and another before the third set.
The victory marked a significant milestone, as Djokovic joined Roger Federer as only the second 37-year-old to reach the last 16 at Melbourne Park since the tournament’s 1988 format change.
After the match, Djokovic addressed the issue of fan behaviour crossing boundaries during matches.
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“Yeah, few people here and there. I understand you have few drinks more, and then you get into it, but on the court it’s frustrating,” he said when asked if some fans are overstepping the mark.
The Serbian also voiced strong support for Danielle Collins’ “kiss my a*s” gesture to partisan crowds after her victory over Destanee Aiava.
“I loved her response. I loved it, everything she said on the court, off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that,” Djokovic declared.
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Despite the drama, Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his performance, particularly in the third set.
“Overall I think in the third, I felt fresh, moved really well. Overall very pleased with my game,” he said.
Novak Djokovic was too strong for Tomas Machac in their Australian Open showdown on Friday
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The world number one acknowledged his age-related challenges, stating: “I’m not 19 anymore.”
Djokovic will continue his pursuit of an unprecedented 25th grand slam singles title when he faces another Czech player, Jiri Lehecka, in Sunday’s fourth round.
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