Tennis icon Novak Djokovic came perilously close to being disqualified from the Australian Open following a dangerous on-court incident that saw him narrowly miss striking a ball girl during a moment of frustration.
A Moment of High Tension in Melbourne
The legendary Serbian player, competing in his third-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp, unleashed a furious strike towards the net area towards the end of the second set. The ball flew directly towards a ball girl who was crouched by the net, missing her head by mere inches in what could have been a tournament-ending moment.
Umpire's Discretion and Historical Precedent
Had the ball made contact with the young official, chair umpire John Blom would have had little choice but to default Djokovic from the match and tournament. This scenario would have echoed Djokovic's 2020 US Open disqualification when he accidentally struck a line judge with a ball during similar circumstances.
The 38-year-old immediately apologised for the incident before continuing with the match, which he ultimately won in straight sets as he pursues an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title and a record-extending 25th Grand Slam championship.
Expert Analysis of the Dangerous Incident
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash provided insight to the BBC, stating: "The ball was nearly slapped at a million miles per hour into the side hoarding, it skimmed past the ball kid. I don't even think he knew the ball kid was there and that was three inches from getting defaulted. He would have been defaulted for sure."
Cash continued his assessment: "I don't think he even thought about it, he slapped it into the net and because the ball was out, he wasn't focused on where exactly he was hitting the ball."
Djokovic's Post-Match Reflections
Following his victory, Djokovic admitted he felt "really lucky" to have secured the win in straight sets, acknowledging: "I was really lucky to get out of the trouble of the set point in the third set. He had an upper hand in that point and things can happen quickly, one shot can determine the winner so I'm glad to overcome it and win in straight sets."
The veteran player also discussed his physical condition and tournament approach: "At the beginning of the second set he did struggle with his arm and I could see his km/h went down, so I had more looks at his first serve and second serve. Then the tables turned and I must say I relaxed a little bit too much, and was in trouble to close out the second set."
Looking Ahead in What May Be Final Australian Campaign
In what could potentially represent his final appearance at the Australian Open, Djokovic expressed cautious optimism about his tournament prospects: "[I feel] really good. It's been a great start of the tournament. Things can change and I'm not getting ahead of myself because last year I learned a lesson, I got too excited too early in some of the Grand Slams."
The tennis great acknowledged the rising competition while asserting his continued relevance: "I'm still trying to give these young guys a push for their money. I'm still around and hanging in there. Alcaraz and Sinner are playing at a different level from all of us right now, but when you enter the court and the ball rolls, you always have a chance."
Djokovic's narrow escape from disqualification adds another dramatic chapter to his storied Australian Open history as he advances to the fourth round in Melbourne, where he will continue his pursuit of tennis immortality while undoubtedly reflecting on how close he came to an early tournament exit.
