Watch: Novak Djokovic confronts heckler during Australian Open match
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic earned a difficult four-set win in the second round of the Australian Open Wednesday over Alexei Popyrin, 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was also challenged in the fourth and final set by one particularly animated heckler.
Wednesday was far from the first occasion that the "Joker" was heckled during a major and wasn't the first time at the year's opening Grand Slam event when he responded.
In January 2023, Djokovic was taunted during his second-round match against Enzo Couacaud and eventually pleaded with the umpire to toss the fan. Djokovic, who was making his return to Australia after being deported on the eve of the 2022 tournament after his refusal to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, told the official that the fan was "drunk out of his mind" and "just wants to get in (his) head."
The 36-year-old's win over Popyrin was his 30th straight victory at the Australian Open, which he has won a record 10 times.
Earlier this month, Djokovic lost to No. 10 Alex De Minaur (then ranked 12th) in the United Cup quarterfinals, 6-4, 6-4. The defeat snapped the Serbian's 43-match winning streak in the land down under, a stretch that lasted six years.
More must-reads: