Novak Djokovic has revealed that a heated altercation with a fan may have contributed to his victory in a challenging second-round match at the Australian Open against Alexei Popyrin. The world number one showed his mental strength by defeating his determined opponent 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 in a match that lasted over three hours.
Djokovic’s win followed a tough first-round match against Dino Prizmic, where he spent over four hours on the court. The Serbian player admitted that he was feeling unwell during that match.
During the fourth set of the match against Popyrin, Djokovic engaged in a contentious exchange with a spectator. He stated that he tolerated the comments for most of the match but eventually confronted the fan, challenging him to say his remarks directly to his face. The fan did not have the courage to do so, and Djokovic believes that this incident may have motivated him to perform better.
The match started smoothly for Djokovic as he comfortably won the first set. However, his unforced errors increased in the second set, and he was broken for the first time in the fourth game. Popyrin had a chance to level the match but missed an opportunity to do so.
In the third set, Popyrin requested a medical timeout and received treatment on his left calf. The pivotal moment came in the 10th game when Djokovic made several uncharacteristic errors but managed to save three set points. He eventually won the set in a tie-break, taking control of the match.
After his altercation with the fan, Djokovic regained his focus and broke Popyrin’s serve in the sixth game of the fourth set, ultimately securing victory.
With 24 Grand Slam titles, Djokovic is the most decorated player in men’s tennis, surpassing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. He is aiming to win his 11th Australian Open title, which would put him ahead of Margaret Court on the all-time list of major titles. In the next round, Djokovic will face Argentine player Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
(This article includes inputs from AFP)
Novak Djokovic revealed that a heated altercation with a fan may have contributed to his victory in a challenging second-round match at the Australian Open against Alexei Popyrin. Despite facing a determined opponent, Djokovic displayed mental fortitude and won the match 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. The altercation with the spectator seemed to fire him up and help him find the intensity needed to secure the win. Djokovic, who is aiming for his 11th Australian Open title, will face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the next round.
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