Novak Djokovic leaves Australian Open commentator stunned with never-before-seen shot as fans hail ‘point of tournament’
NOVAK DJOKOVIC produced a stunning never-seen-before shot as fans hailed it the “point of the tournament”.
Djokovic, 36, edged out American Taylor Fritz in four sets to book his spot in the Australian Open semi-finals for the 11th time.
And he was helped along the way by a simply outrageous piece of skill.
Serving at 5-3 down in the second set, Djokovic put it out wide as Fritz fired back a huge forehand return.
The Serb, though, had not quite got his feet sorted out and was stood on the baseline.
Unwilling to risk the ball bouncing in, he then decided to attempt a ridiculous volley on the full.
He nonchalantly flicked the ball up the line and into the open court for the coolest of winners.
Djokovic reacted by putting his finger to his nose – almost in a ‘shush’ motion – as the crowd went wild.
And that left everyone watching in complete awe.
One commentator said: “Did I just see that?”
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Another added: “Does that go down as a serve and volley on the stats?”
A third replied: “Guys what just happened there? Say what!
And the laughing Eurosport commentator responded: “Oh my word. Have you ever seen that before?”
Tennis fans catching the action on TV were equally surprised.
One tweeted: “That was an outrageous instinctive return.”
Another wrote: “Sheesh.”
A third typed: “Novak Djokovic taking ‘serve and volley’ to the next level.”
And a further supporter simply declared: “Point of the Tournament.”
Inside Djokovic's love-hate with Aussie Open fans
NOVAK DJOKOVIC has won more Australian Open titles than anyone else and is eyeing up his 11th title in 2024.
The Serbian won his first crown way back in 2008 and admitted a 15-year love-affair with a tree in Melbourne’s Botanic Gardens has been the secret to his success.
But despite his unparalleled record Down Under, it has not always been plain sailing for Djokovic in Australia.
In 2022, he was famously deported from Australia over his refusal to get the Covid-19 vaccination and was unable to play in the tournament.
He received a mixed reception upon his return to Melbourne Park in 2023 – with plenty of support but some fans booing.
But in 2024 his relationship with the Aussie crowd really strained with incidents in his first FOUR rounds prompting various pointed fingers to the ear and overexuberant celebrations.
That included Djokovic telling a heckler to “come and say it to my face” before Nick Kyrgios offered to “go all WWE” on any further rowdy fans and then one spectator shouting “get vaccinated mate” before Djokovic responded with an ace on match point.
There is no doubt there is plenty of respect for all Djokovic has achieved in tennis – particularly at the Australian Open – but there still remains an underlying tension with the Aussie crowd that refuses to go away… and the more they try to get under his skin, the more it drives Djokovic on to prove them wrong and keep on winning.
Djokovic held serve in that game but Fritz closed out the second set.
After overcoming a furious meltdown at his team, the reigning champion flew through the third and fourth sets to secure a 7-6 4-6 6-2 6-3 victory.
He even had time to blow a kiss to Nick Kyrgios in the courtside commentary box as their bromance continues to blossom.
Tree-loving Djokovic put some feuds with fans in previous rounds behind to book his spot in the final four once again.
And the stats make very pretty reading for the 24-time Grand Slam champ – in the ten previous years he has reached the Australian Open semis, he has gone on to lift the title.