Djokovic ‘Big Fan’ Of Collins’ Reaction To Melbourne Hecklers

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Novak Djokovic called Danielle Collins’ feisty reaction to Australian Open hecklers “funny” and “smart” after himself getting riled up during his third-round win on Friday.

The 37-year-old Serbian great gave his full backing to the American, who sarcastically thanked the Melbourne crowd on Thursday for “paying my bills”.

Collins, 31, blew kisses to the fiercely partisan crowd, cupped her ear and even pointed to her backside after a stormy 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-2 victory over Destanee Aiava, the last Australian woman in the draw.

A fired-up Djokovic swatted aside Czech 26th seed Tomas Machac and let out a roar, then pointed to his ear and someone in the Rod Laver Arena stands.

The 10-time Australian Open champion admitted in the immediate aftermath that he was “very hot-headed right now”.

He said that the targets of his ire were “a few people here and there” who he felt overstepped the mark and made provocative comments.

Djokovic was more restrained than Collins but said he admired her response.

“Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I love it.”

He added: “I heard some comments of people that she shouldn’t have said that or that. I think she handled it really well.

“So I think she was funny, smart, and just big fan of what she did.”

Novak Djokovic has praised Danielle Collins for her strong response to hecklers during her match at the Australian Open in Melbourne. The world number one tennis player described Collins as a "big fan" after she shut down a group of rowdy spectators by telling them to "shut the f*** up" during her third-round match.

Collins, who ultimately lost the match to Elina Svitolina, received widespread support for her handling of the situation, with many applauding her for standing up to the disrespectful fans. Djokovic, who is no stranger to dealing with hecklers himself, commended Collins for her composure and resilience in the face of adversity.

In a post-match interview, Djokovic expressed his admiration for Collins, stating, "I think she handled it really well. It’s not easy when you have people shouting and trying to distract you. I’m a big fan of how she handled the situation and stayed focused on her game."

The incident serves as a reminder of the challenges athletes face both on and off the court, and the importance of standing up for oneself in the face of adversity. Djokovic’s support for Collins further highlights the solidarity and respect that exists among players in the tennis community.

Tags:

1. Djokovic
2. Collins
3. Melbourne
4. Hecklers
5. Tennis
6. Fan reaction
7. Sportsmanship
8. Novak Djokovic
9. Danielle Collins
10. Australian Open

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