Novak Djokovic faced a lively Rod Laver Arena audience during his second-round encounter at the 2024 Australian Open, which was unsurprising given that he was competing against local player Alexei Popyrin.
The dissenting voices increased as the match progressed, with the World No. 1 saving multiple set points to secure the third set in a tiebreaker, following the first two sets being evenly split between the two players.
In the fourth set, a particular fan managed to irritate Djokovic, shouting at him from behind in the stands. The 24-time Grand Slam champion did not take the heckling lightly and responded by silencing the fan with a shout:
"Come and say that in my face!" Djokovic called out the annoying fan.
It must be noted that Djokovic continued his excellent run in Melbourne and defeated Australia's Popyrin 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3.
The 36-year-old faced a challenge from the 24-year-old Aussie but ultimately managed to regain control of the game and excelled under pressure, showcasing one of his strengths.
Djokovic, a 10-time champion at the Australian Open, quickly gained an early advantage by winning the first set 6-3. Despite his initial dominance, Popyrin, ranked 43rd globally, staged a comeback, securing the second set 6-4. Supported by the enthusiastic local audience at the Rod Laver Arena, the Australian had four set points in the third set, but eventually lost 7-4 in a tiebreak.
In the fourth set, Djokovic secured an early break and went on to win convincingly with a score of 6-3. Popyrin showed commendable courage, saving four match points before succumbing to defeat. Despite the loss, the Aussie can draw positives from his performance.
“He was a better player in the second and third set and then (with the set points) he had quite an easy forehand and missed it. I was lucky at that point,” Djokovic said after the win.
“Things changed around and the momentum shifted in the tie break. I managed to put one more in the court than he did.
“Credit to him for tactically coming up with the right game plan and serving big. He deserves a big round of applause for the performance today.”
The Serb will now face the in-form Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who caused Andy Murray's first-round exit, in the third round.