Djokovic plays with fire as he merely escapes AO disqualification

The words "oh no, not again" would've been ringing through Novak Djokovic's mind when he came within centimetres of being disqualified from the 2026 Australian Open.

During his third round match against Botic van de Zandschulp, Djokovic almost hit a ballgirl after frustratingly blasting a ball in her direction, who was positioned next to the net.

The chair umpire gave the 38-year-old a stern look before resuming play without issuing a warning.

The First Serve Live returns on Monday February 2nd at 8pm AEDT for its 18th year on the SEN Network/App, Australia's only dedicated weekly tennis program on commercial radio running through till the end of November.

The incident occurred when Djokovic was in a commanding position, leading 6-3, 4-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

At the 2020 US Open, the Serbian legend was ejected from the tournament after accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball, in what was one of the most sensational defaults in the Open era.

The First Serve Live returns weekly each Monday Night on the SEN Radio Network & SEN App.

SEN Network: SEN 1116am Melbourne, SEN 1170am Sydney, SENQ 693am Brisbane, SEN Gold Coast 1620am, SEN SA 1629am, SEN Tassie 1629am, SEN Top End 1611am, SEN Mt Gambier 1629am, SEN Goulbourn Valley 1260am, SEN Geelong, SEN Bendigo, SEN Ballarat, SEN Gippsland, SEN Sunraysia, SEN WA on the app in Perth, SEN Spirit 621am in Bunbury, SEN Spirit 621am in Bunbury, SEN Spirit 1494am in WA's South West, SEN Peel in Mandurah, and SEN Goldfields 1611am in Kalgoorlie and across WA in the Pilbara, Mid-West and Great Southern Regions, SEN Fanatic on the SEN App, SEN App worldwide