Novak Djokovic risks causing a disaster and then flies to the round of 16 of the Australian Open 2026. The Serbian, seeded number 4, in the third round match of the men’s singles today 24 January beats the Dutch Botic van der Zandschulp 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) after canceling 2 sets then R in the third set. Djokovic will face the winner of the match between the Czech Jakub Mensik, seeded number 14, and the American Ethan Quinn.
Fortune was with Novak Djokovic.
This almost hit the ball girl. An inch more and he would’ve been disqualified.
Focus. 🙏🏻pic.twitter.com/o7bK79ym0k
— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) January 24, 2026
Djokovic, in total control of the match especially in the first two sets, took a big risk during the second set with a comfortable score of 4-2 in his favour. The 38 year old from Belgrade hits a ball with the point already awarded and risks hitting a ball girl. Luckily, the trajectory helps the Serbian who avoids disciplinary measures and the risk of disqualification. For Nole it would have been a sensational encore after the red card he received at the 2020 US Open: in the round of 16, on that occasion, he hit a line judge. The apologies were not enough: disqualification.