Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided disqualification for the second time in his esteemed Grand Slam career at the Australian Open. During his third-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp, Djokovic angrily hit a ball towards a ball girl near the net, nearly striking her but missing by a small margin.
If the ball had hit the ball girl, umpire John Blom would have been forced to disqualify Djokovic, similar to an incident at the 2020 US Open where Djokovic was disqualified for hitting a line judge with a ball. Djokovic apologized for the incident and continued the match, ultimately winning in straight sets as he pursues his 11th Australian Open title.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash commented on the incident, highlighting the close call and expressing that Djokovic seemed unaware of the ball girl’s presence during his outburst. Djokovic himself acknowledged his luck in winning the match in straight sets, attributing his success to strategic adjustments during key moments.
As Djokovic aims for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, he remains cautious about his performance and health, having learned from past experiences of getting injured after early successes in tournaments. Despite acknowledging the strong competition from rising stars like Alcaraz and Sinner, Djokovic is determined to maintain his competitive edge and continue challenging the younger generation on the court.