WATCH: Novak Djokovic tells British fans to ‘shut up’ in angry clash as he seals Serbia’s Davis Cup win

Novak Djokovic was embroiled in another angry exchange with a fan as he entered the fray at the Davis Cup in Malaga and this time, he was entirely justified to hit back as the disruptive spectator.

Just four days after Djokovic won his record-breaking seventh ATP Finals in Turin, the Serbian legend secured a decisive win against Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie to secure his nation’s place in the Davis Cup semi-finals against Italy on Saturday.

That will see Djokovic play a re-match with Jannik Sinner, whom he lost to in the group stages and then beat in the championship match at the ATP Finals on Sunday.

The passion Djokovic has for representing his country ensured he was fully focused for his clash with Norrie, so he was not amused when a spectator started whistling and shouting out random numbers as he attempted to serve out the first set.

Djokovic stopped his service motion several times and when he wrapped up the set, he made gestures towards the fan, put his hand to his ear and blew a sarcastic kiss in the direction of the disruptive spectator.

One set away from the semi-finals… 🇷🇸@DjokerNole takes the opener against Norrie, 6-4 💪#DavisCupFinals | @TSSRBIJE pic.twitter.com/1zAQix4gZc

— Davis Cup (@DavisCup) November 23, 2023

The incident followed a familiar pattern over the course of 2023, with Djokovic seemingly using negativity coming at him from the stands to fuel his desire to succeed.

The British fans who were barracking Djokovic started banging the drum and singing during his post match interview, with Djokovic reacting to them with an angry exchange.

“Learn how to show respect to players,” he screamed at the British contingent, before telling them to “shut up”.

He went on to sum up the match once the noise was diluted from his detractors.

“Cameron Norrie is a great player and he battled hard out there,” declared Djokovic in his on-court interview. “I haven’t played too many left handers lately, so it is great to finish off the job.

“Playing for your country is always the greatest pressure and motivation. After a long season, we can feel it in the legs.

“Now we play Italy. They are a very strong nation. We are going to fight and leave it all out on the court.”

READ MORE: Iga Swiatek claims women get different treatment and reflects on her first meeting with Rafael Nadal

Again, Djokovic had every right to be annoyed by the treatment that came his way, with his revenge secured on the court as usual.

Djokovic sealed Serbia’s win after Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic won the first match of the tie against Jack Draper.

Serbia sprang a surprise by picking Kecmanovic, ranked five places above Draper at 55 in the world, ahead of their number two Laslo Djere, but the 24-year-old fully justified the decision with an impressive 7-6 (2) 7-6 (6) win.

Twenty-one-year-old Draper was unable to impose his big game on the match and came out on the wrong end of two tie-breaks in a contest lasting two hours and two minutes.

“I definitely felt the pressure and the weight of the moment but I’m super happy that I was able to stay calm, stay focused and get the win,” said Kecmanovic.

“I feel lucky to be a part of this group. It’s just a group of guys who have been playing unbelievable and have had great careers. It just feels good to be a part of that group who have been doing so well.”