Beer-soaked and emotional tennis followers have heeded Novak Djokovic’s pre-match pleas to behave amid rigidity across the Australian Open ultimate.
Thousands of Serbian and Greek supporters descended on Melbourne Park for Sunday’s title decider between Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
They created an electrical environment inside Rod Laver Arena and packed Garden Square subsequent door, chanting their heroes’ names all through the match.
A predominantly pro-Djokovic crowd waved Serbian flags as followers clamoured for vantage factors in entrance of a number of large screens and climbed on one another’s shoulders.
Some threw drinks within the air as they celebrated Djokovic’s tenth Open title, which was secured with a straight-sets win over Tsitsipas.
One girl repeatedly waved a Greek flag in entrance of the noisiest part of Djokovic followers, upsetting a vocal response.
But there have been no indicators of any critical bother in what appeared a principally family-friendly environment.
There have been 45,832 followers at Melbourne Park on Sunday – about triple the capability of Rod Laver Arena.
“I try to remind myself how blessed I am to have all this support from all these people,” Djokovic advised the Nine Network in entrance of his adoring followers.
“It’s incredible. Many people that didn’t manage to get a ticket to watch it live in the stadium, they came here to the square and watched it there.
“It’s wonderful. It simply offers me a number of power.”
Djokovic’s 22nd grand slam title came against the backdrop of his return to Australia after last year’s deportation saga.
He received a mostly warm welcome from local fans but had a group of “drunk” hecklers thrown out of his second-round match for “insulting me and upsetting me”.
Tight security was implemented at Melbourne Park throughout the tournament, with Russian and Belarusian flags prohibited at the venue because of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Eagle banner and items of clothing with the Z symbol were also banned.
Some spectators were seen flouting Tennis Australia’s ban on those national flags during the opening week of the tournament.
The situation was inflamed when footage emerged of Djokovic’s father with Vladimir Putin fans last Wednesday night.
Srdjan Djokovic then stayed away from his son’s semi-final and final matches so as not to be a distraction.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said he believed that Srdjan Djokovic didn’t realise he was posing with people carrying Russian flags.
Before Sunday night’s final, Novak Djokovic pleaded with fans to be respectful and not overstep the mark during the tournament decider.
The grand slam legend felt his father was “misused” by pro-Russia fanatics and admitted the escalating saga had taken its toll during his bid for a 10th Open crown.
Djokovic overcame the disruption, storming to victory over Tsitsipas within the ultimate.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
