- Novak Djokovic missed eight break points in the opening set against Taylor Fritz
- He grew more frustrated as the set wore on after failing to take his chance
- Djokovic took his frustration out on his coaching team for failing to pay attention
Novak Djokovic was furious with his own coaching team after failing to get their attention during the opening set of his Australian Open quarter-final against Taylor Fritz.
After taking to the court in searing heat in Melbourne, Djokovic missed multiple break points in a draining first game that lasted 24 points, and then failed to take three more break point opportunities in Fritz’s second service game.
The Serbian superstar became more agitated as the set wore on after missing eight break points in total, and took his frustration out on his team at one change of ends.
The 36-year-old was sat drinking water as he tried to grab the attention of those in his personal box by frantically waving his arm. Having not been noticed after several seconds of waving, Djokovic threw his arm up in dismay and then shouted across, which finally did the trick.
He was still far from happy, though, motioning for his team to always be looking at him to help him overcome Fritz in a gruelling first set.
Novak Djokovic took his frustration out on his own coaching team after failing to get their attention during the first set
Djokovic finally won the opening set on a tie-break after missing eight break point chances
Eurosport commentator Patrick McEnroe joked ‘You had one job!’ after Djokovic was ignored by his team for almost half a minute.
Djokovic’s concerns were understandable as Fritz began to shift the momentum in the latter stages of the set and had two set points in the 12th game.
But Djokovic held firm and then produced a typically rock-solid performance in the tie-break to take it 7-3.
It is not the first time that Djokovic has failed to keep his cool during his run at the Australian Open after he confronted a heckler during his second round match against home favourite Alex Popyrin last week.
Having just dropped the second set, Djokovic was involved in a fiery exchange with a spectator at the start of the third, repeatedly telling them ‘come say that to my face’.
Speaking after the match he refused to hold back when reflecting on the incident and the general conduct of the fans.
Djokovic was involved in a fiery exchange with a heckler in his second round match last week
Djokovic pointed out the spectator and repeatedly told them ‘come say that to my face’
‘Not the best atmosphere to play in, to be honest. People basically made noise between the first and second serve the entire match,’ he said.
‘What really frustrated me is when somebody heckles me in the crowd. I told him to say it to my face but there was an absence of courage in that moment.’
That incident appeared to spark Djokovic into life as he then won the next two sets, and his exchange with his own coaching team also seemed to fire him up as he finally took the first set against Fritz.
Djokovic is aiming to make the semi-finals in Melbourne once again, as he goes in search of his 11th title at the opening Grand Slam of the season.
