• Novak Djokovic moved into the Australian Open fourth round but nearly faced disqualification after hitting a ball that narrowly missed a ball girl.
  • The 38-year-old recorded his 400th Grand Slam win and will meet Jakub Mensik in round four.
  • Stan Wawrinka bowed out in an emotional farewell, losing to Taylor Fritz in four sets.

Djokovic avoids default after on-court incident

Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round of the Australian Open after a straight-sets win over Botic van de Zandschulp, but the match was overshadowed by a dangerous moment that left fans and officials alarmed. In the third round match, Djokovic struck a ball away in frustration and it narrowly missed a ball girl crouched near the net post.

Djokovic apologised immediately, describing the action as “in the heat of the moment”. Broadcasters and former players noted how close the incident came to a default; commentator Pat Cash said it was “three inches” from a disqualification. Under Grand Slam rules, hitting a ball recklessly and endangering others can lead to a player being defaulted.

Key match facts

The win marked Djokovic’s 400th Grand Slam victory and took two hours and 44 minutes. He maintained his record of not dropping a set at the event so far and will face Czech 16th seed Jakub Mensik in the fourth round. Fans following tennis scores and live updates will see Djokovic listed among the remaining favourites for the title.

Wawrinka’s emotional exit from Melbourne

While Djokovic’s run continued, Stan Wawrinka brought his Australian Open campaign to a close. The 40-year-old Swiss, who confirmed this will be his final Australian Open before retiring at the end of 2026, lost to American Taylor Fritz in four sets.

Wawrinka became the first man aged 40 or over to reach the third round of a Grand Slam in 48 years and drew warm tributes for his longevity and fighting spirit. After the match he addressed the crowd, reflected on two decades of memories in Melbourne and toasted the tournament with tournament director Craig Tiley.

Looking ahead

Djokovic’s name will be prominent on tennis scoresboards as the tournament progresses. His narrow escape from a default served as a reminder of the fine line between on-court emotion and disciplinary consequences at Grand Slams. Meanwhile, Wawrinka’s farewell added a poignant note to this year’s event.

Both stories — Djokovic’s controversial moment and Wawrinka’s valedictory exit — underline how quickly the narrative of a Grand Slam can change: from potential heartbreak to pride in one match, and from veteran resilience to a final curtain call in another.

Image Referance: https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/articles/cy4gwe4jrzpo