Novak Djokovic Faces Disruption at Australian Open 2025
Novak Djokovic Faces Disruption at Australian Open 2025
Novak Djokovic, the record holder at the Australian Open, admitted feeling frustrated by fans’ disruptions during his third-round victory against Tomas Machac on January 17.
Djokovic’s Response
At the penultimate point, Djokovic hit a stunning down-the-line winner, letting out a loud roar and flexing like a bodybuilder to celebrate. He then closed the match with a passing shot and pointed to his ear while looking at the stands at Rod Laver Arena – a clear message to a fan who had been heckling him throughout the match.
“I’m very heated at the moment,” Djokovic admitted in his post-match interview. “I’ll try to give a calm response. In the second set, I had to adjust my breathing because I’m no longer 19 years old.”
As Djokovic spoke, some fans heckled again. The 37-year-old smiled and replied:
“Sorry, I’m already married.”
His comment drew laughter from the crowd before he added:
“But we can have a drink together. Maybe you’ve already had a few. Let’s grab a drink and think about what was said during the match.”
Noisy Crowd Disruptions
Despite being the most successful player in history with 10 Australian Open titles, Djokovic often faces boos from the crowd. This is especially surprising considering the other two members of the “Big 3,” Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, have retired and enjoy unwavering fan support.
Former world number one Mats Wilander commented on Eurosport:
“It’s strange that Novak still isn’t as loved, even though he’s the greatest player right now.”
The noise wasn’t limited to Djokovic’s match. Throughout this year’s tournament, fans have disrupted several players. For instance, Danielle Collins expressed frustration and responded provocatively to the crowd after her second-round win. Meanwhile, the match between Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Felix Auger-Aliassime had to be moved to a different court due to excessive noise from nearby stands.
Former British number one Laura Robson noted:
“There’s way too much shouting, even during rallies. It’s an issue for both players, but Djokovic seems to be targeted more by those sitting in the front rows, which clearly frustrated him.”
Collaboration with Coach Andy Murray
One interesting aspect of Djokovic’s match was his interaction with coach Andy Murray. Robson explained:
“Djokovic speaks Serbian to his coaching team, and someone translates it for Murray. Sometimes, Murray leans in to listen, but it doesn’t seem to be an issue because Djokovic always plays better after taking Murray’s advice.”
Djokovic’s Next Challenge
In the fourth round, scheduled for January 19, Djokovic will face 24th seed Jiri Lehecka, who has only dropped one set in the tournament so far. If Djokovic wins, he could meet Carlos Alcaraz in a potential quarterfinal clash. With his current form, Nole remains a strong contender for the Australian Open 2025 title.
