Novak Djokovic pleads for 'drunk out of his mind' fan to 'get out of the stadium' at Australian Open
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Updated 20/01/2023 at 18:08 GMT
A spectator on Rod Laver Arena succeeded in managing to rile up Novak Djokovic at a crucial stage of the fourth set of his second-round match against Enzo Couacaud on Thursday with some aggravating behaviour. The fan repeatedly yelled to annoy Djokovic, who eventually had to walk up to the umpire and request that the individual be removed from the stadium. That wish was eventually granted.
'He's drunk out of his mind' - Djokovic asks the umpire for support
Novak Djokovic questioned the conduct of a fan in the stands during his second-round match against qualifier Enzo Couacaud at the Australian Open on Thursday.
The nine-time champion at Melbourne Park said to the umpire that the individual was "drunk out of his mind" as he asked for them to be escorted out of the Rod Laver Arena during a tense period of the fourth set.
in the fourth, with both players having struggled at various points and to different degrees with injuries. While the Serb had to contend with his nagging hamstring issue, Couacaud suffered a nasty ankle injury and looked poised to retire early in the opening set before battling through the problem with the aid of strong painkillers.
But more than the injury, it was the behaviour of the spectator that Djokovic addressed as he walked up to the umpire's chair and spoke about the situation with the Melbourne crowd whipped up in a frenzy. The fan was eventually escorted out of the stadium.
"Can we get this guy out?" Djokovic asked the umpire.
"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?"
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On commentary for Eurosport, Chris Bradnam agreed with Djokovic's request: "The entire night, he’s right!
"It’s getting beyond a joke now, it really is. There are a couple of people that have tried to tell him to shut up, but he is just persistent."
Djokovic, who had to take a medical timeout due to his hamstring injury in what was a tricky spell in the match, eventually came through 6-1 6-7(5) 6-2 6-0 despite a valiant display from the French qualifier.
Particularly with his great rival, Rafael Nadal, having already exited the tournament after his shock defeat - after suffering an injury of his own - in the second round on Wednesday, Djokovic can clearly sense the opportunity to draw level with him on 22 Grand Slam singles titles this fortnight if he can stay healthy enough.
The 35-year-old can extend his record nine titles at the opening Grand Slam of the season Down Under if he is able to triumph again on his return to the tournament this year.
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