Going off-court for a moment, Novak Djokovic drew some criticism at last year’s US Open for using Ben Shelton’s signature phone call gesture late in their semi-final clash.
At the time, Djokovic said he thought the celebration was “original, and I copied him”, but Shelton’s father Bryan believed there was more to it than that.
“He wanted to mock Ben at the end,” Shelton senior said.
“It wasn’t something he was doing just to copy Ben. It was to mock him.”
Now, Djokovic has essentially admitted as much in an interview with French publication L’Equipe, published on the morning play got underway at Melbourne Park.
“It was a reaction against him, he did not behave properly, with respect, on court, and before the match,” he said.
“If anyone places himself in the unsportsmanlike zone, I react.”
Shelton and Djokovic are in the same quarter of the draw, and could meet in the fourth round.
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