Ten-time Australian champion Novak Djokovic invited a heckling fan to confront him face-to-face throughout his hard-fought second-round win in opposition to native hope Alexei Popyrin on Wednesday.
The 36-year-old Serb was not at his finest and was irritated at instances by a raucous late-night crowd in Rod Laver Arena.
But the world primary fought off 4 set factors within the third set to say a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory to remain on target for a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam title.
Popyrin’s possibilities shortly evaporated within the fourth set, by which Djokovic traded barbs with an unruly fan.
Commentator Nick Kyrgios, analyzing for Eurosport, mentioned the person involved shouldn’t have “poked the bear.”
Explaining what occurred later, Djokovic mentioned: “I imply, you do not need to know (what he mentioned).
“There have been loads of issues that have been being advised to me on the courtroom, notably from that nook, and the identical facet within the different nook. I used to be tolerating it for a lot of the match.
“At one level, I had sufficient, and I requested him whether or not he desires to come back down and inform it to my face. Unfortunately for him, he did not have the braveness to come back down.
“That’s what I was asking him. If you have courage, if you’re such a tough man, come down and tell it to my face, and let’s have a discussion about it.”
Heckling apart, Djokovic additionally had hassle along with his sport. His forehand was unusually fragile, and at instances he appeared bothered by the wrist downside that flared up earlier than the match.
He additionally appeared flat at instances as he handled a chilly however nonetheless managed to get the job executed in opposition to the 24-year-old Popyrin, who will rue not taking the third set.
Next up for Djokovic is Argentine Tomas Etcheverry, who has already accounted for Andy Murray and Gael Monfils.
After a tumultuous night time at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic mentioned he may put together for that by visiting Melbourne’s Botanical Gardens – and spend a while along with his favourite tree.
“There’s one particular tree that I’ve been having a special relationship with, so to say, in the last 15 years,” he mentioned. “I like each nook of the botanical gardens. I feel it is an unimaginable treasure for Melbourne.
“That particular tree, I cannot reveal which one; I’ll try to keep it discreet for myself when I’m there to have my own time. I like to ground myself and connect with that old friend.”
Source: www.dailysabah.com
