World No. 1, Novak Djokovic, was visibly agitated after a group of drumming Great Britain fans tried to drown out his post-match interview following Serbia’s Davis Cup quarterfinal win on Thursday.
The Serbian player had just triumphed over Cameron Norrie with a 6-4 6-4 victory, securing Serbia’s 2-0 win. However, Djokovic expressed his frustration after fans continued drumming while he answered on-court questions.
“Learn how to respect players, learn how to behave yourself,” Djokovic retorted, pointing at the crowd. “No, you shut up, you be quiet.
“We’re going to have a good sleep tonight; keep going, keep going,” added Djokovic, showing composure despite the disturbance by the fans.
The 36-year-old Djokovic is aiming to conclude a remarkable season, having won three out of the four grand slams. Although he was only beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling final at Wimbledon, he seeks to lead his country to its first Davis Cup title in 13 years.
Additionally, Djokovic recently secured his seventh title at the ATP Finals, defeating Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the final.
Serbia is now set to face Italy in the Davis Cup semifinals on Saturday.
Despite his commanding performance on Thursday, the 24-time grand slam champion confessed to feeling tired after a demanding year on tour. He also expressed his annoyance at fans attempting to disrupt him during the match.
“That’s disrespect but again that’s something I have to be prepared for in a Davis Cup,” the 36-year-old Djokovic told reporters. “It’s normal that sometimes fans step over the line. In the heat of the moment, you react too.
“They can do whatever they want but I’m going to respond to that […] they were trying to annoy me the entire match, so yeah, we had a little bit of a chat in the end.”
GB’s Davis Cup captain, Leon Smith, clarified that there was “zero animosity” between the teams and emphasized that lively crowds provide a more vibrant atmosphere for Davis Cup fixtures.
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Jessica Roberts serves up the latest in the world of tennis. With a love for the racket sport, she reports on tennis matches, player rankings, and Grand Slam events, ensuring readers stay informed about the tennis world.
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