India, Jan. 20 -- On Sunday, January 19, Novak Djokovic expressed his displeasure to the audience at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne during the Australian Open. Following his victory over Czech player Jiri Lehecka, the World No. 7 controversially declined to participate in a courtside interview with tennis icon Jim Courier, leaving many spectators perplexed.

Djokovic triumphed over Lehecka with a score of 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) in a match where he faced considerable opposition from the crowd. After securing his win, he approached Courier for the interview but instead took the microphone to thank the audience before departing. He did, however, remain for a few minutes to sign autographs.

In the post-match press conference, Djokovic elaborated on his decision, attributing his actions to Nine Network reporter Tony Jones and calling for an apology for what he described as offensive and racist remarks. He stated that his refusal to conduct the interview was linked to Nine Network being the official broadcaster of the Grand Slam event in Melbourne.

Courier, speaking to Eurosport, expressed his own confusion regarding Djokovic's decision, noting that he had not been informed in advance. "No, I had no idea. I had no idea that was going to happen," he remarked.

He further explained, "There is no obligation for these players to participate. It is an opportunity for them to engage with the audience in the stadium and the fans watching from around the world. However, a player can choose to opt out. Initially, I thought there might be a reason, such as an injury or cramping, but I don't believe that was the case. I hope we will gain more insight into this matter at some point," he added.

Throughout the match, Djokovic appeared visibly frustrated with the crowd at Rod Laver Arena. Particularly in the third set, spectators attempted to distract him during his service, prompting intervention from the chair umpire.

Despite his refusal to engage with Courier, Djokovic did converse with a Eurosport presenter on the court, where he candidly discussed his experiences with varying crowd dynamics.

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