sport news Novak Djokovic ERUPTS at umpire after punter's deportation taunt at the ... trends now
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Novak Djokovic has once again complained of fan behaviour at the Australian Open after his opponent was urged to 'send him home', 12 months on from his deportation saga.
The 35-year-old returned to Melbourne Park for this year's tournament, having missed the 2022 event after the Australian government deported him due to his vaccination status.
Aiming to win his 10th slam Down Under, Djokovic made light work of Russian opponent Andrey Rublev in the first set of their quarter final on Wednesday night, taking it 6-1.
But Djokovic was clearly upset by heckling from the Rod Laver Arena crowd and was heard urging umpire James Keothavong to take action after a fan was reportedly heard yelling: 'Send him home Rublev, send him home'.
When Rublev was serving at 4-1 down, Djokovic said to the umpire: 'Can you tell the front guy to shut up or not? Every point, every single point you're not reacting'.
Then, after winning the first set, Djokovic continued: 'I don't mind if he is supporting him [Rublev]. But for three or four times in a row, he has said things about me.'
Djokovic has had his fair share of run-ins with fans during this year's tournament, having complained of a fan who was 'drunk out of his mind' earlier on in the
