Novak Djokovic has doubled down on his taunting of the Wimbledon crowd, while also abruptly cutting short an interview as he was being grilled over a remarkable post-win interview.
The Serbian legend accused parts of the Centre Court crowd of “disrespect” in a withering on-court tirade after defeating 15th-ranked Holger Rune 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday.
Djokovic took issue with fans who constantly chanted “Rune” throughout the match, seeming to construe them as boos and saying: “To all the fans that have had respect and stayed here tonight, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I appreciate it.
Watch selected NRL, AFL, SSN games plus every F1 qualifying session and race live in 4K on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial today.
Djoker downs Rune to reach last eight | 01:17
“And to all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player — in this case me — have a goooooooood night.”
The 24-time major champion later doubled down to his nine million followers on X.
Djokovic earlier brought an abrupt end to an interview with BBC television in the broadcast centre at Wimbledon prior to conducting his press conference when pressed about the on court reaction.
“When I feel the crowd is stepping over the line, I react if I feel disrespected,” he said.
“This is the third question already. I have said what I have to say.”
Djokovic, who said he did not back away from what was asked on court, was quizzed later as to whether the time had come for Wimbledon to react when fans “stepped over the line” when it came to heckling.
“Look, I don’t know what Wimbledon can do about it,” he said.
“I mean, those particular moments when the crowd pay for their tickets, they have the right to be there and cheer the way they want to cheer.
“They (have to) choose how they behave or how they choose to support the player. It is really up to them. You could argue that maybe a chair umpire or whoever can step in at certain moments and calm them down, but there’s only so much you can do.
Demon stunned after late injury scare | 00:56
“I mean, you’re not going to take out the whole section of the crowd or stadium out because they’re misbehaving or showing disrespect. It’s just the way it is. It’s part of the sport.”
Djokovic said he understood that fans helped to pay for the mammoth prize money the top players earn and understood some players would be supported more than others.
“It’s obviously solely up to them,” he said.
“It’s fully understandable that they have the freedom to choose from day to day (who to) back in the match, but if somebody steps over the line, I react. That’s basically what it was after the match, I said what I said.”
On a heated day at Wimbledon – the miserable weather aside – Roland Garros finalist Alexander Zverev was also perturbed by the behaviour of some members of Taylor Fritz’s support team after conceding a two set lead to lose to the American.
Zverev, who injured a knee in his 3rd Rd match and wore a brace on the joint during his 4-6 6-7 (4) 6-4 7-6 (3) 6-3, said he had no issues with Fritz or his coaching staff but was upset by other members of his team.
Fritz’s partner Morgan Riddle is a social media influencer who has a massive following on Tik Tok and posted a video of herself with friends on a different platform enjoying a drink saying; “When your man wins 4 the girls.”
Sinner & Alcaraz advance to final eight | 01:19
Zverev exchanged some words with Fritz at the net and said later that disliked the behaviour of some people who were “not from the tennis world”.
“His team is extremely respectful. I think his coach, his physio, also his second coach, they’re extremely respectful,” he said.
“I think there’s some other people that maybe are in the box that are not maybe from the tennis world, that are not maybe from particularly watching every single match.
“They were a bit over the top. That’s okay. No issues. No drama. He fought back from two sets to love, so they’re obviously all excited, very pumped up.
“But no issues with Taylor. I think Taylor is a great guy. I have absolutely no issues with him.”
Fritz, for his part, said he could understand why his rival was annoyed but also claimed he could not hear what was being directed toward the dual-grand slam finalist.
“I don’t really hear my box when I’m playing like that. I didn’t hear anyone being … extremely loud,” he said.
“He’s totally allowed to be annoyed if they were being annoying. Like … I don’t know. That’s one of the things I asked him at the net, ‘Who was it?’
“I mean, again, it’s not a big thing. It’s all good.”