Novak Djokovic insists ‘I’m no spoiled brat’ after confronting fan who screamed from the crowd to ruin his serve in US Open match… insisting ‘he knew exactly what he was doing’
- Novak Djokovic is into the US Open third round after beating Tallon Griekspoor
- The Serbian star won in straight sets as he aims for Calendar Grand Slam
- A member of the crowd repeatedly shouted out to distract him during the match
- Djokovic has defended his choice to complain to the umpire over the noise
Novak Djokovic has admitted he only has ‘tolerance up to a certain point’ for crowd noise on-court and insisted he is no ‘spoiled brat’ for calling out a fan who repeatedly tried to disrupt his play.
The Serbian icon charged into the third round of the US Open on Friday with a straight-sets victory over Tallon Griekspoor, keeping his cool despite some unwanted distractions.
A heckler sat court-side made it his mission to stop Djokovic on his march to a Calendar Grand Slam, shouting out at key moments to throw the world No 1 off.
Novak Djokovic was frustrated by crowd noise on Friday en route to victory at the US Open
The Serbian had to point out a fan in the crowd who was shouting to try and distract him
Djokovic was set up for an overhead smash on one particular point, but the fan’s strange screech threw him off and the opportunity was missed.
The 34-year-old aimed a vengeful glare at the offending fan after taking the first set 6-2, but the cringeworthy behaviour continued until Djokovic finally complained to the umpire.
‘When tennis players talk about that, someone who is watching team sports would say, “What a spoiled brat”,’ the Serb said, seeking to get ahead of criticism.
‘But it’s a different sport. Look, there’s a lot of noise happening on the stadium, particularly in the night sessions. I don’t mind that.
Djokovic gave the fan a fierce stare-down after the first set but later had to call on the umpire
The Serbian still swept Tallon Griekspoor aside to take a straight-sets victory in round two
‘Even sometimes during the point it happens that people out of excitement, they just scream or they release like a sound or whatever, sigh, whatever you call it. And that’s fine.
‘But if someone intentionally does it over and over again, then I have tolerance up to a certain point, then it’s not correct, then it’s not fine. It’s not fair. I feel like it’s not good for us players.
‘Particularly that guy for some reason was kind of screaming just before I would hit my smash, which was a big point. Before that he would do a few times. After that again.
‘That wasn’t nice. That’s all. I don’t mind the noise. Don’t get me wrong. I think it’s important for the entertainment, for the crowds, the music.
‘The guy that I pointed out, he knew exactly what he was doing, and that’s all.’
Those viewing on TV were appalled, with @bookwashington writing: ‘Novak Djokovic doesn’t deserve to be heckled, I don’t care how you feel about him as a Tennis player, he deserves so much respect.’
Djokovic is right on track for the Calendar Slam after winning the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon so far this season.
He plays world No 56 Kei Nishikori on Saturday in the third round.
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