Calls for Novak Djokovic abuser to be banned from Australian Open after vile gesture

Novak Djokovic is used to dealing with negativity from tennis crowds around the world, but he looked especially disappointed by the antics one fan in his opening match at the 2024 Australian Open.

The world No 1 is a big favourite to win an 11th title at Melbourne Park, where he has not lost since 2018, but he dropped the second set as 18-year-old Dino Prizmic showed what makes him a major talent for the future.

Qualifier Prizmic was briefly a break up in the third set and kept battling after Djokovic stepped things up before the defending champion finally clinched a 6-2 6-7 (5) 6-3 6-4 victory on his seventh match point after four hours and one minute.

There was a moment mid-way through the match that saw Djokovic halt his service action and appear to mouth the word ‘unbelievable’ after a fan made a gesture towards him from the stands.

Video footage showed a fan making a ‘bras d’honneur’ or arm of honour gesture towards the Serbian superstar, which is highly insulting to people from his country.

The gesture involves putting a fist up and putting the other arm into the crease of the elbow.

It is widely used as a gesture to dismiss someone, but Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, where it is known as bosanski grb (‘Bosnian coat of arms’), it is particularly disrespectful.

Tennis fans too to social media to express their dismay at the incident, with calls for Australian Open chiefs to identify and ban the spectator from returning to Melbourne Park.

Djokovic did not confirm whether his annoyance on the court was due to this incident, but images on social media clearly showed a spectator making the gesture in the direction of the defending Australian Open champion.

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This is far from the first time Djokovic has faced hostile crowds, with former world No 7 Barbara Schett telling Tennis365 he thrives on the animosity that comes his way.

“If the crowd is for him, he takes that energy, but if the crowd are against him it gives him even more motivation to beat his opponent,” said Eurosport and discovery+ presenter Schett.

“Over the years, he has dealt with the crowds so well. Whatever happens, he uses it to his advantage.

“He has been out there for so long and just knows what to do with every little beat, every little percentage he can get out of anything, he will take it and he will do it.”

Novak Djokovic on vaccines, Carlos Alcaraz and why crowds boo him. Interview with ⁦@DavidWalshST⁩https://t.co/EpI73BP3nJ

— Matt Lawton (@Lawton_Times) January 14, 2024

Djokovic spoke about how he deals with crowds turning against him in an interview with The Times that was published last weekend.

“In a lot of matches I had the crowd against me and I had to find a way to thrive,” he stated. “I managed to do that, not always, but I feel like I learnt how to handle it and get the result.

“I couldn’t always keep my calm. I have broken rackets, done things I am not proud of. I have no problem saying I made mistakes. A flawed human being, no doubt. At the same time I have tried not to be too harsh with myself because I did earlier in my career. I was my biggest critic.

“Now I show more compassion to myself and look for ways to improve, not just with my game but my mentality, my emotional state. I’m looking for the formula that keeps you in an optimal state of mind — but I don’t think it exists.

“You’re playing in 40 degrees Celsius, against someone you should normally beat, the crowd is against you and maybe that morning you’ve had an argument with your spouse that affects you when you are most challenged on the court. But you still have to find a way to win.”

“Do I want to be loved? I think at the beginning of my career I really tried to be, how can I say this, a bit more connected with the crowd, particularly in places where they loved Federer and Nadal more, or Andy Murray for that matter.

“But at the same time, I understood there are various factors why I will not be supported more than them. So I asked myself, do I keep on trying to win over the crowds or accept it and move on? Be my authentic self, whether they like that person or not?”