Novak Djokovic praised Danielle Collins' witty retort to booing spectators at the Australian Open, suggesting tennis could benefit from a less serious approach. Collins' lighthearted demeanor after her second-round victory resonated with Djokovic, who himself faced heckling during his match. Djokovic believes the sport should embrace changes to engage younger generations, advocating for entertainment during breaks, similar to other sports.
Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 17, 2025 Serbia's Novak Djokovic gestures as he celebrates winning his third round match against Czech Republic's Tomas Machac REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Djokovic, who endured constant heckling from one fan throughout his third round victory on Friday, said he had every sympathy for Collins and thought she had handled the situation well."I loved it, everything she said on the court, off the court. Big fan of Danielle Collins after that. I was before, but now, big fan. I think she was funny, smart, and just big fan of what she did."
"So, for example, the last couple of years I think only that we have this new rule where people are able to come in even if it's not a changeover. So I guess that's one of the ways to really try to open up a bit more and not have strict rules."
TENNIS AUSTRALIAN OPEN NOVAK DJOKOVIC DANIELLE COLLINS FAN INTERACTION
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