Novak Djokovic says he is ready to pay a fine if the Australian Open penalizes him for controversial interview snub

Novak Djokovic enters the quarterfinals of a major for the 58th time and the 15th time at the Australian Open. He defeated Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round in straight sets, but his victory was overshadowed by controversy surrounding his decision to skip the customary on-court interview.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has expressed his willingness to accept any fines imposed by the Australian Open for refusing on-court interviews. Djokovic even shared his conversation with Craig Tiley, CEO of Tennis Australia in the post-match conference.

"I just wanted to make sure that he knows where I stand and the reasons behind it. So I told him: 'If you guys want to fine me for not giving an on-court interview, that's OK.' I'll accept that 'cause I feel like this is something that needs to be done."

After his win over Lehecka, the Serbian addressed the crowd briefly but declined to participate in the traditional on-court interview with Jim Courier. He later explained in a press conference that his boycott was a response to remarks made by Tony Jones.

"Back to Melbourne Park, where you can see the Novak Djokovic fans there in full voice. The chants are quite extraordinary. Novak, he's overated! Novak's a has-been! Novak, kick him out! Boy I'm glad they can't hear me," Jones had said.

He even mentioned that unless Jones or Channel 9 issues a public apology, he will continue to avoid speaking to the broadcast network.

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Novak Djokovic's quarterfinal clash against Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic at 2024 Paris Olympics - Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic is set to face Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter. The two have faced each other seven times in their careers so far, with Djokovic narrowly leading the head-to-head record 4-3. Some of their past matchups came at the most consequential points in the biggest tournaments, including the Wimbledon final in 2023 and 2024 and the Olympic gold medal match.

Each meeting has produced memorable moments, cementing their rivalry among the most electrifying in modern tennis. With history and high stakes on the line, this quarterfinal showdown promises yet another spectacle for tennis fans worldwide.

After a minor hiccup in the opening two rounds — Djokovic dropped a set in each match against unseeded opponents — he seems to be back to his dominant self. In subsequent rounds, he made short work of two of the Czech Republic’s seeded players — 26th-seed Tomas Machac in the third round and 24th seed Jiri Lehecka in the fourth. After finding his rhythm, the Serbian's dominance on the court can now be seen in plain sight.

On the other hand, the World No. 3 has been in red-hot form since the beginning of the tournament. Alcaraz advanced to the quarterfinals with 15th Jack Draper having to retire after two sets with a hip injury [7-5, 6-1]. At the 2024 Australian Open, the Spaniard reached the quarterfinals but was knocked out by Alexander Zverev [1-6, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6]. Alcaraz will be determined to cross the quarterfinal hurdle this time and challenge for the title.