Novak Djokovic faced a close call at the Australian Open when he nearly hit a ball kid with a ball in a moment of frustration during his match against Botic van de Zandschulp. The incident occurred towards the end of the second set, with the ball narrowly missing the crouched ball girl by a few inches.
Had the ball made contact with the youngster, umpire John Blom would have been required to disqualify Djokovic, similar to an incident at the 2020 US Open where he hit a line judge with a ball. Djokovic quickly apologized and continued the match, ultimately winning in straight sets as he pursues his 11th Australian Open title.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash described the incident, noting that the ball came dangerously close to the ball kid, emphasizing the potential consequences had it struck her. Djokovic later acknowledged his luck in winning the match without dropping a set, attributing his success to key moments during the game.
Looking ahead, the 38-year-old aims to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, possibly in his final appearance at the Australian Open. Despite facing challenges from younger players like Alcaraz and Sinner, Djokovic remains focused on competing at a high level and continuing to push himself against the rising talent in the sport.