Novak Djokovic faced a close call at the Australian Open when he narrowly missed hitting a ball kid in a fit of anger during his match against Botic van de Zandschulp. The incident occurred in the second set when Djokovic struck a ball in frustration, narrowly avoiding hitting the ball girl who was positioned near the net.
Had the ball made contact with the youngster, umpire John Blom would have been forced to disqualify Djokovic, similar to an incident at the 2020 US Open where Djokovic hit a line judge with a ball. Djokovic quickly apologized and continued the match, ultimately winning in straight sets as he pursues his 11th Australian Open title.
Commenting on the incident, former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash remarked that Djokovic had a lucky escape as the ball missed the ball kid by a very small margin, emphasizing the potential consequences of such actions in the game.
After the match, Djokovic acknowledged his fortune in winning in straight sets, attributing his success to strategic adjustments during the game. He expressed caution about getting ahead of himself, citing past experiences where early excitement led to injuries in Grand Slam tournaments.
At 38 years old, Djokovic is aiming for a record 25th Grand Slam title, indicating that this Australian Open appearance could potentially be his last. Despite acknowledging the exceptional talent of younger players like Alcaraz and Sinner, Djokovic remains determined to compete at a high level and continue challenging the next generation of tennis stars.