Novak Djokovic blasts tennis umpire during tense Australian Open semi-final
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It’s MORE drama from Novak! Djokovic has a scuffle with the referee on his Australian Open semifinal overserve clock that started while he was reaching for a towel … and then taunts the booing crowd as he wins the first set.
Novak Djokovic shared an icy exchange with a tennis referee after the Serb was reprimanded for a shot clock violation during their Australian Open semi-final, before taunting the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic, 35, is aiming to book his place in another final of his favorite Grand Slam, which he has won nine times, and the tennis superstar is looking to win the event for a tenth time.
Apparently playing American opponent Tommy Paul at 5-1 in the first set, Djokovic was unsettled by a service clock violation when he went to get his towel.
Novak Djokovic criticized a tennis referee for a service clock violation at the Australian Open
He was warned after going to get his towel during the 25-second countdown on Friday night.
The serve clock gives players a maximum of 25 seconds to serve after completing the point above. The clock starts as soon as the referee calls the score.
However, Djokovic seemed to argue that the clock should start after he picked up his towel on court, as ball boys are no longer allowed to hand out towels to players.
“The ball boys can’t give me the towel, so tell me how it works,” he asks the referee, who explains the rules.
‘It’s the first time I’ve been in the towel in this game, and you start the clock before I touch the towel. Well done.’
Djokovic won the first set and put his finger to his ear to taunt the crowd.
The Serb is aiming to win his 10th Australian Open title after returning to Melbourne
The typically cool Djokovic lost his temper after that moment, with Paul winning nine points in a row before rallying back in the first set at 5-5. He eventually pulled himself together and took the first set 7-5 to a chorus of boos from the crowd.
Playing on his status as a pantomime villain, Djokovic stuck his finger behind his ear to taunt the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.
Djokovic has endured his fair share of on-court outbursts at this year’s tournament. During his quarterfinal win over Andrey Rublev, he demanded that a fan be warned after he was heard yelling “send him home Rublev,” referring to his 2022 deportation saga.
In his second round match against Enzo Couacaud, he said that a quartet of fans dressed in Where’s Wally costumes were “trying to get into my head” with constant interruptions.
He’s endured his fair share of on-court drama during this year’s Down Under tournament.
“The guy is completely drunk, from the first moment he has been provoking me,” he said. He’s not here to watch tennis. He just wants to get into my head.
Djokovic also asked the referee: ‘What are you going to do about it? Why don’t you call security to get him out of the stadium?
Off the court, the spotlight has been on Djokovic for the past 48 hours. His father, Srdjan, was filmed posing with supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin outside Melbourne Park on Wednesday night.
“So there is no interruption in tonight’s semi-final for my son or the other player, I have chosen to watch from home,” he said in an emailed statement on Friday.
“I had no intention of causing such headlines or disruptions.
“I was outside with the Novak fans like I have after all my son’s games to celebrate their wins and take pictures with them. He had no intention of getting caught up in this.
My family has lived through the horror of war and we only want peace.
“I wish a great game and I will be cheering for my son, as always.”