Tennis great Novak Djokovic brushed off a heckler during a warm-up match at the Australian Open, cruising past Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4 in just over 80 minutes.
Chasing an 11th title at Melbourne Park and a 25th grand slam crown, Djokovic showed no signs of injury after withdrawing from the Adelaide International.
The 38-year-old struck 22 winners, committed 17 unforced errors, and covered the court with his usual speed in his only competitive hit-out before the tournament.
An awkward moment came on match point when a fan yelled, ‘Let’s go Roger’ as Djokovic prepared to serve.
Djokovic stopped mid-motion and responded with a sarcastic laugh, drawing laughter from the crowd.
A voice from the opposite end appeared to add ‘I agree,’ but the distraction didn’t matter as Djokovic closed the match after a Tiafoe error.
Novak Djokovic had another run in with a supporter in Australia, continuing a long-running battle with hecklers
Djokovic has enjoyed and endured a love-hate relationship with Australian audiences since 2020 when he was deported because of his vaccination status
The Serbian veteran has had a turbulent relationship with Australia shaped by several high-profile controversies over the years.
His most significant clash came in 2022, when he was detained and ultimately deported from Australia over Covid vaccination requirements.
The decision followed a legal battle after his visa was cancelled, citing public health grounds.
Djokovic missed the Australian Open that year despite being the defending champion.
The saga drew global attention and divided public opinion, with debates over health policy, fairness, and athletes’ rights.
Earlier, Djokovic had also faced criticism in Australia for breaching Covid protocols during exhibitions and public appearances in 2020.
His outspoken views on vaccination continued to attract scrutiny from Australian media and officials.
In 2023, he returned after receiving a visa waiver, with lingering tensions still evident among sections of the crowd.
Djokovic had not played since November but was able to blow out some rust in his win over the United States’ Frances Tiafoe
The Serbian superstar will be looking for a record 11th Australian Open title at Melbourne Park
Crowd behaviour, including boos and heckling, has periodically followed him during matches in Melbourne.
Despite the controversies, Djokovic has remained dominant on court in Australia, repeatedly separating off-court disputes from his performances, resulting in a record 10 Aussie Open titles.
Djokovic is actively chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam singles title, aiming to solidify his status as the greatest male player ever.
The Australian Open and Wimbledon are often cited as his best chances, despite facing strong challenges from younger rivals like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, and recent signs of ageing and minor injuries.
Djokovic had not played a tour-level match since beating Lorenzo Musetti in the final of the Athens ATP event in early November.
But the veteran is feeling fresh and is ready to defy his age in another tilt at his favourite Grand Slam.
‘I’m trying to remind myself to not take any moment on the court for granted,’ he said.
‘We are all battling ourselves first and then our opponent obviously on the court, but I’m just trying to remind myself of the joy I still have and a blessing to be able to play at this level at this age.’
