‘WHAT DO YOU MEAN I GOT FRUSTRATED?’ – NOVAK DJOKOVIC’S AWKWARD INTERVIEW MOMENT

Novak Djokovic spoke after his first-round match against Jeremy Chardy at the Australian Open. The 2021 Australian Open is live.

On a day which featured a couple of potential distractions for Novak Djokovic, the world number one looked focused on the job in hand when beginning his Australian Open title defence with a straight-sets 6-3 6-1 6-2 victory over Jeremy Chardy.

For Novak Djokovic it was the perfect start against an ideal opponent at the Australian Open, and no distraction was going to prevent him from sleeping easy in Melbourne, his “happy place”, on Monday night.

Having come under scrutiny for his comments on the quarantine players faced before the tournament, Djokovic was asked: “You got a little frustrated in isolation as you were waiting to prepare for this, are you feeling good, are you feeling fit, do you feel you lost anything?”

NOVAK DJOKOVIC (SRB)

Djokovic replied, “What do you mean I got frustrated?” and then quickly said, “Wait, wait, wait,” while he gestured to the crowd, for some had not appreciated the reporter’s initial question. Seeking clarification, Djokovic added: “What do you mean?”

The reporter continued: “It’s not a negative term, just being stuck in quarantine for two weeks, was that a bit frustrating? You felt you might not get the practice you needed but you showed no loss of form.”

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 30: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning set point during his Men’s Singles Semifinal match against Roger Federer of Switzerland on day eleven of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 30, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Djokovic remained all smiles, though, as the noise from the crowd continued, adding: “I’m just really glad we are free, we are playing tennis. I’m really glad we are back in Australia. It’s a happy place for us. That’s all.”

Cue the cheers from the crowd, and a well-handled response from Djokovic, when perhaps he may have shown greater frustration with the question in the past.