Novak Djokovic noted he has a problem when a heckler just doesn’t know when to stop and crosses the line, like it was the case during his Australian Open second-round match against Enzo Couacaud. After tolerating one particular heckler for two hours, Djokovic lost his cool during the fourth set and started to rant about the spectator who was crossing the line.
During his rant, Djokovic described the heckler as “drunk out of his mind” and someone who was “not here for tennis.” “The super majority of the fans is here to be respectful and watch sports. Some cheer for you, others don’t, no problem.
I have problems when guys are crossing the line too many times. One was insulting, provocating. I supported that for 1h30. It’s been two hours, not ten minutes. I had enough. I can tolerate 5, 6 times, but the limits were crossed. It’s unnecessary for me or another player to be in this situation.
2h is enough for a supervisor or chair empire to react. They didn’t,” Djokovic said after the match, per Tennis Majors.
“… It’s been two hours, not ten minutes. I had enough. I can tolerate 5, 6 times, but the limits were crossed.
It’s unnecessary for me or another player to be in this situation. 2h is enough for a supervisor or chair empire to react. They didn’t.” #Djokovic — Tennis Majors (@Tennis_Majors) January 19, 2023
What Djokovic told the chair umpire about the heckler
Djokovic was giving his best to ignore the heckler, until the moment he absolutely exploded.
While pleading his case, Djokovic gave his best to explain to the chair umpire why the heckler warranted to be thrown out of the stadium.
“The guy’s ðð«ð®ð§ð¤ ð¨ð®ð ð¨ð ð¡ð¢ð¬ ð¦ð¢ð§ð…
he’s not here to watch tennis!”
A furious Novak Djokovic pleads with the umpire to remove a loud spectator from the audience ð¤#AusOpen | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/IiASc4pyEj — Eurosport (@eurosport) January 19, 2023
“Can we get this guy out? The entire night.
What are you going to do about it? What? Please answer. You’re kidding me? You know who it is, the guy is drunk out of his mind, from the first point he’s been provoking, provoking! He’s not here to watch tennis, he just wants to get in my head.
So, I’m asking you, what are you going to do about it? You’ve heard him at least 10 times, I’ve heard him 50 times, what are you going to do about it? Why don’t you get him out of the stadium?” Djokovic was heard telling the umpire.
Meanwhile, Djokovic was able to beat Couacaud in four sets and progress into the Australian Open third round. In his next match, Djokovic plays a familiar face, Grigor Dimitrov.
