By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, January 19, 2023
Where’s Wally fans weren’t hiding the trash talk directed at Novak Djokovic.
A group of fans dressed as the famed Where’s Waldo character (called Where’s Wally Down Under) in matching red-and-white striped shirts and matching beanies were busy giving Djokovic the business during his Australian Open second-round win over Enzo Couacaud.
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Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic was coping with a cranky left hamstring injury, a tricky French qualifier on the opposite side of the net and a few unruly fans who sometimes screamed before or during his serve motion.
Heckled by the Where’s Wally gang he claimed was inebriated, Djokovic called out the colorful crew to the chair umpire.
“The guy’s 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝… he’s not here to watch tennis!”
A furious Novak Djokovic pleads with the umpire to remove a loud spectator from the audience 😤#AusOpen | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/IiASc4pyEj
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 19, 2023
Finally, Djokovic erupted calling out Where’s Wally for their collective taunting card play.
“The guy’s drunk out of his mind, from the first point he’s been provoking me,” Djokovic yelled at the umpire in the fourth set. “He’s not here to watch tennis. He just wants to get in my head. What are you going to do about it? Why don’t you get security to get him out of the stadium?”
Ultimately, security did indeed escort the fan from Rod Laver Arena.
Later, Djokovic prompted a collective laugh from the crowd saying “Thank you” to another fan who told a different unruly fan to “Shut up!” for trying to distract the 35-year-old Serbian superstar during his service motion.
Novak Djokovic has still got time to make the Australian Open crowd laugh 🤣👏#AusOpen | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/Lp7gBejzl4
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 19, 2023
Afterward, Djokovic said he tolerated the verbal abuse for a while because he understands fans pay for tickets and have a right to voice their views.
Ultimately, Djokovic said both the verbal abuse crossed the line and compelled him to ask the chair umpire to act.
“Most of the people, super majority of the people, is here or some other situations that I had in the past in some other tournaments, is always respectful,” Djokovic said. “They are great fans and pay the ticket to watch you. I respect that. That’s sport. Some people like you more, cheer…
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