Novak Djokovic faced a close call at the Australian Open when he narrowly missed hitting a ball kid in a fit of anger during his match against Botic van de Zandschulp. The incident, which occurred towards the end of the second set, saw Djokovic lash out at a ball in frustration, almost hitting a ball girl stationed near the net. Fortunately, the ball missed her head by a small margin.
Had the ball struck the young girl, umpire John Blom would have been left with no choice but to disqualify Djokovic, a consequence he faced previously at the 2020 US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball. Djokovic promptly 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 speed at which the ball narrowly missed the ball kid. Djokovic acknowledged his luck in winning the match smoothly, attributing his success to observing his opponent’s performance fluctuations during the game.
At 38 years old, Djokovic aims for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, likely marking his final appearance at the Australian Open. Reflecting on his current form and competition from younger players like Alcaraz and Sinner, Djokovic emphasized the unpredictability of tennis matches and his determination to challenge the rising talents in the sport.