Novak Djokovic came within inches of a stunning disqualification at the Australian Open after a furious swipe of the ball nearly struck a ball girl crouched near the net — a moment that instantly revived memories of the most infamous default of his career.
The tense incident unfolded late in the second set of Djokovic’s third-round match against Botic van de Zandschulp. Frustrated, Djokovic lashed at a loose ball in anger. It rocketed toward a ball girl stationed by the net post and narrowly missed her head by just centimeters.
Had the ball made contact, chair umpire John Blom would have had little choice but to eject Djokovic from the tournament — the same fate he suffered at the US Open in 2020, when he accidentally struck a line judge with a ball.
The near miss immediately reignited debate over tennis’s rules, which punish outcomes rather than intent. Many observers noted that the Melbourne incident appeared far more dangerous than the New York default, as Djokovic hit the ball with significantly more force and far closer to a vulnerable official.
Despite the scare, Djokovic escaped with only a brief apology and continued the match, though his frustration remained visible. He struggled physically in the latter stages, dealing with a sore right ankle and painful blisters, while maintaining a visibly short temper.
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At the time, Djokovic was two sets ahead and locked at 3–3 in the third, still chasing a record-extending 11th Australian Open title.
The moment stunned commentators watching live. Former British No. 1 Tim Henman, working the broadcast, could only exclaim, “Oh my goodness,” as the replay rolled.
Henman and fellow commentator Nick Lester suggested Djokovic may have been avoiding eye contact with the chair umpire after realizing just how close he came to disaster.
For the 38-year-old star, the incident nearly brought a shocking end to what could be his final Australian Open run — and it added to an already controversial week off the court.
Earlier in the tournament, Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, drew attention after commenting on Naomi Osaka’s conduct during a tense match on Margaret Court Arena. Osaka later apologized, but Jelena Djokovic questioned on social media whether officials should have penalized what she viewed as a disruption between serves.
“I’m surprised this is not being called hindrance,” she wrote, adding that applause between serves can be distracting and disrespectful under existing rules.
While Djokovic ultimately avoided punishment this time, the frightening near miss left fans, commentators, and officials asking the same question yet again: how close is too close — and should tennis be waiting for someone to get hurt before acting?