Defending champion Novak Djokovic navigated a tumultuous match against Alexei Popyrin at the Australian Open 2024, triumphing in four sets after a heated confrontation with a spectator.
In a hard-fought encounter, Djokovic, seeking his 11th men’s title in Melbourne, admitted to feeling “flat emotionally” but rallied to secure a 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory. The Serb’s performance was marred by a verbal exchange with a heckler during the fourth set, prompting Djokovic to invite the spectator to “come down and tell it to my face.
Reflecting on the incident, Djokovic, 36, acknowledged that the confrontation served as a catalyst, stating, “Maybe that was needed for me to be shaken up a bit.” He emphasized that while he did not desire such situations, the encounter fueled the intensity required for victory.
Popyrin, ranked 43rd, posed a significant challenge, winning the second set and engaging the home crowd. However, Djokovic’s resilience and a dramatic third-set tie-break ultimately secured his advancement to the third round.
Next, Djokovic is set to face Tomas Martin Etcheverry after the Argentine 30th seed’s impressive victory over Gael Monfils.
In other Australian Open highlights, Italian fourth seed Jannik Sinner showcased dominance with a swift 6-2 6-2 6-2 win against Jesper de Jong. Sinner, working on his fitness during off-days, jokingly expressed a desire for a “Baywatch” physique.
Stefanos Tsitsipas faced an intense battle against Jordan Thompson, triumphing 4-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-2 7-6 (7-4). The Greek seventh seed described the adrenaline rush as “insane” and looks forward to a third-round clash with Luca van Assche.
American 17th seed Frances Tiafoe suffered an unexpected exit with a 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-5) loss against Czech world number 75 Tomas Machac. Meanwhile, 12th seed Taylor Fritz and 16th seed Ben Shelton secured wins.
Russian fifth seed Andrey Rublev displayed dominance with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory over American Chris Eubanks, while Australian 10th seed Alex de Minaur cruised past Matteo Arnaldi 6-3 6-0 6-3.
The Australian Open 2024 continues to unfold with thrilling matchups and unexpected twists on the court.
