The Serb was angry with the referee in his game against Andrey Rublev, who didn’t intervene when a fan attacked him.
Novak Djokovic is angry. Already diminished by an injury to the left thigh since the start of the tournament, the Serb must compose on this Australian Open with the mood swings of the Melbourne public.
Faced with the French Enzo Couacaud, during the first week, the former world No. 1 had been taken in dislike by a tipsy spectator. During his quarter-final against Andrey Rublev, the “Djoker” got annoyed with the referee during the match. The latter did not move a finger as someone in the audience urged Rublev to send the Serb home, in reference to the soap opera of his visa canceled by the Australian government last year, which he had deprived of his favorite tournament.
Djokovic is on a mission
At 4-1 in his favor in the first set, Djokovic challenged the referee. “Can you tell the guy in the front row to shut up, or not?” At each point, at each point you do not react”cursed the Serb.
Novak Djokovic complains to British umpire James Keothavong about a fan repeatedly saying: “Send him home Rublev, send him home”
At end of 1st set, the Serb said: “I don’t mind if he is supporting him. But for three or four times in a row, he has said things about me” #AusOpen— Neil McLeman (@NeilMcLeman) January 25, 2023
Djokovic gave it a layer at the end of the first set, which he won 6-2. “I don’t care if he encourages her, he added, referring to Rublev. But three or four times in a row he said things about me. »
This incident did not prevent Djokovic, on mission, from continuing his superb second week. After wringing Alex De Minaur in the previous round, leaving him only five games (6-2, 6-1, 6-2), the nine-time winner of the tournament was almost as strong against Rublev (6-1, 6-2 , 6-4). Here he is in the last four, more determined than ever.
