A smattering of boos rang out around the Rod Laver Arena on Sunday afternoon, after Novak Djokovic refused to do a post-match interview following his straight-sets victory against Jiri Lehecka.
During the tournament, players will normally stay on the court to conduct a post-match interview with broadcasters and reflect on the match.
But in response to comments that were made by a Australian broadcaster earlier in the week, Djokovic said he would not be conducting on-court interviews until further notice.
Djokovic, who had claimed a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-4) victory against Lehecka, did however stay to sign a few autographs with members of the crowd for a brief period, before making his way down the tunnel.
‘Thank you very much for being here tonight,’ he said over the microphone.
‘I appreciate your presence and the support and I’ll see you next round. Thank you very much,’ he added, before making a beeline for the tunnel.
Novak Djokovic surprised fans on Sunday night by delivering a brief on-court interview
Players typically tend to stay on the court to answer questions after they have won but the 24-time Grand Slam winner quickly thanked fans before stepping off the court
Earlier this week Channel 9 broadcaster Tony Jones had appeared to mock Djokovic during a bizarre television segment.
Jones was reporting from Melbourne Park ahead of Djokovic’s third-round clash against Tomas Machac, where he commented on a large crowd behind him who were chanting the for the world No 7.
Jones then began his broadcast, stating: ‘Welcome back to Melbourne Park where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans in full voice … the chants are quite extraordinary.
He then turned to the crowd and was heard saying: ‘Novak is overrated … Novak’s a has-been… Novak kick him out,’ he said while looking back on the enthusiastic crowd.
‘I am glad that they can’t hear me.’
He was later seen backstage talking to tournament director Craig Tiley and cut a frustrated figure, waving his hands as he spoke.
He later revealed his reasoning for abrubtly cutting his post-match interview short.
‘I would like to just clarify the reason why the interview was not conducted on the court, the post-match interview, like it’s a common, usual practice,’ he said during his press conference.
‘A couple days ago the famous sports journalist who works for official broadcaster, Channel 9 here in Australia, made a mockery of Serbian fans and also made insulting and offensive comments towards me.
‘And since then, he chose not to issue any public apology. Neither did Channel 9. So since they’re official broadcasters, I chose not to give interviews for Channel 9.
‘I have nothing against Jim Courier or neither the Australian public. It was a very awkward situation for me to face on the court today.
‘It’s unfortunate I chose to say something to the crowd, but obviously wasn’t the time and space or situation for me to explain what I’m doing right now.
‘I leave it to Channel 9 to handle this the way they think they see fit. That’s all.’
Mail Sport has contacted Channel 9 for comment.
Jones had issued an apology earlier in the week. In a statement to Balkan outlet SportKlub the Channel 9 broadcaster said: ‘Unfortunately, my “humor” the other night was misinterpreted as an attack on Novak. That was certainly not the case. I’ve been joking with Serbian fans throughout the tournament and this is – at least I thought so – a continuation of that.
‘If you watch our morning show, you’ll get an idea of how we work. At no point did I mean to show any disrespect to Novak and I apologize – there was certainly no intention to offend him.’
The world No 7 later said that he would not be conducting any on-court interviews for the forseeable future.
It came after Channel 9 Journalist Tony Jones had angered Djokovic with his comments during a broadcast earlier in the week
Before heading down the tunnel, Djokovic had signed autographs for fans inside the stadium
He later asked Jones to give a public apology following his comments, adding that they had been ‘offensive’
At times during the match 37-year-old appeared to become frustrated by sections of the audience who had shouted and attempted to throw Djokovic off his game.
Some had also called out while he was serving, with the Serbian seen sighing before shaking his head.
During one point of the match, Djokovic was attempting to save service when one fan called out, angering the Serbian. He protested to the chair umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, over the interruption, but the official waved him away.
‘I don’t think someone did it on purpose,’ he said.
Speaking to Eurosport after the match, Djokovic appeared to shed some light on the surprising moment.
‘We all try to handle it in our own specific way. Sometimes I do it better and sometimes I kind of work against myself,’ he said.
‘Only people who have been there at the highest level know what you need to deal with.
‘You need to weather the storm when you feel challenged. When I faced adversity the last few matches, I think I have handled it well. It’s a good signal for the next one.’
Eurosport pundit Laura Robson lifted the lid on some of the heckling that Djokovic had received during the match, stating that some had been ‘peppering him’.
‘It started as people calling balls out in the middle of the rally or making noise,’ she said.
Djokovic was brilliant on Sunday night and his victory has also seen him set up a mouthwatering tie against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open
‘And it was an issue for both players. But Novak definitely had a few people in the front row down this far end of the court.
‘Got this far end of the court, to my left, who seemed to be peppering him a little bit and it was hard to pick up what was being said, but it certainly frustrated him a little. I think that’s fair to say. But there was a lot going on anyway.’
The moment also left some in the commentary box taken back.
‘Maybe we’ll learn more about it in the press conference afterwards but he just didn’t feel like having a chat,’ Jim Courier told Eurosport. ‘I had no idea that was going to happen but there is no obligation for these players to do that.
‘It’s an opportunity for them to talk to people in the stadium and the fans around the world. But a player can opt out. Sometimes if they’re injured or cramping, they can opt out. I don’t think it was that but hopefully we will get more colour on it.’
Matts Wilander believed that members of the audience had tried to get under Djokovic’s skin on purpose.
‘I think spectators are trying to disturb player like Novak because he’s won too much and they want to see a longer match,’ he added.
Despite the heckling, Djokovic went on to secure a spot in the quarter-finals for the 15th time in his career.
The result saw him set up a mouthwatering clash against Carlos Alcaraz, who also advanced earlier this afternoon after British star Jack Draper pulled out of their fourth-round clash with a hip injury.
