Craig Tiley on heckler eviction, AO crowd numbers and Novak Djokovic’s return to Melbourne

There was no shortage of drama at the AO. TA boss Craig Tiley addresses Alexander Zverev’s heckler, overloaded, raucous crowds and will we see the GOAT of Melbourne Park return?

Australian Open organisers have not ruled out capping crowd numbers in a bid to preserve the grand slam’s unique off-court “experience”.

This year’s event delivered record crowd numbers, with more than 1.1 million fans descending on Melbourne Park for the main draw fortnight – a boost of more than 100,000 when compared to the previous record that was set last year.

But while tournament director Craig Tiley said the figures are to be celebrated, they would not be prioritised over fan experience, with the chief saying putting a ceiling on ticket sales had to remain a consideration.

“I think that’s a fair question, and it’s a question that I ask as well,” Tiley said on Monday when asked about lines to get into outside courts and for food and beverage outlets.

“We absolutely have a balance.

Crowd numbers were record breaking but also proved an issue for the event experience. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“There were days where we decided not to sell any more tickets, because we don’t want to have a situation where we just keep funnelling people in to the precinct.

“The objective is, right from the beginning, is that the quality of the experience is the most important thing.

“Our customer satisfaction scores are higher than they were last year, and we’re going through all those numbers … but so far the initial reports have been very positive. But we’ll always make a commitment that it’s not about the number, it’s about the quality of the experience.

“If ever there becomes a moment where we’re getting to a number that’s not satisfactory for that experience, we’ll make a change.

“As we did in the first week, because we didn’t want those people on site without having a great time.”

Raucous Australian crowds were in the spotlight throughout the tournament, but Tiley said he still considered local fans to be “among the most educated” on tennis in the world.

Tournament winner and men’s world No.1 Jannik Sinner had just a few hours of sleep on Sunday night – if even that much – following his three-set defeat of second-ranked Alexander Zverev, completing media commitments until after midnight before enjoying a dinner with his team members into the wee hours.

He was at Albert Park Lake by 9.30am alongside his silverware, before jetting out of Melbourne late on Monday.

“We had a nice dinner with all the team, also my brother was here,” the 23-year-old said of the celebrations.

“Just having a great time together, which was exactly what we needed. We have (spent) two weeks (with) many, many people and it was nice to close off just with us.

“It was a very nice evening.

“I wish I could stay a bit more, but it’s also nice to get back to where I am from and spending some time there which is nice.”

Jannik Sinner celebrated his title with dinner after midnight. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Sinner, who also won the 2024 title, said that the two glories were “different”, particularly after a trying 12 months as he continues his fight against two failed doping tests from last March, with WADA’s appeal on the matter to be heard at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in April.

“This one maybe you enjoy it a bit more because it’s different,” Sinner said on Monday.

“But every grand slam or tournament that you win, it has its own story. You have to pass difficulties which I did also this year and this makes it very special.”

He had admitted pre-tournament that he was unsure how he would be received by the Australian crowd, particularly in the wake of local hope Nick Kyrgios’ strong stance against him being allowed to play, but said the reception had been “maybe what means the most to me” in victory.

Tiley: Novak will be back

Ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is a lock to return for next year’s tournament, according to Tiley.

Djokovic, 37, was unceremoniously booed from Rod Laver Arena on Friday after he retired injured after just one set in his semi-final clash with German world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, who went on to be defeated in straight sets in Sunday night’s final against Jannik Sinner.

The Serbian star posted an MRI image to his Instagram on Saturday night, showing the extent of the tear that he had been playing with, in an apparent message to those who had perhaps doubted his injury, having on Friday expressed some doubt about whether he would return to play in Melbourne again.

Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury “experts” out there. pic.twitter.com/ZO5mBtw9zB

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 25, 2025

But Tiley maintained on Monday that the 10-time Australian Open winner would be back in 2026.

“He had a good warm-up that morning and his team were confident that he’d be able to get out there and play … I haven’t met a player that does as much pre-preparation and has as big a focus on it as Novak does, and he would do everything he possibly can to get on the court,” he said.

“There was some talk about Novak (not coming back here) – Novak will return. He leaves today and he’s with his family, his team left on Friday.

“We’ll see Novak back and I look forward to catching up with him in the next couple of weeks.”

Djokovic has been spotted around Melbourne with his family in recent days, including at picturesque Albert Park Lake with his children.

Tiley backs heckler eviction; Sinner supports ‘gracious’ Zverev

Tiley has backed the eviction of a heckler who protested against men’s runner-up Alexander Zverev on Sunday night, declaring it was “rightfully so” that she was removed from the stadium.

As Zverev was about to speak following his straight-sets loss to Italian star Jannik Sinner, the woman yelled “Australia believes Olya and Brenda” repeatedly in reference to the names of Zverev’s ex-partners who have made graphic allegations of domestic violence against the world No.2.

He has strongly refuted their claims, with Olya Sharypova electing not to press charges and Brenda Patea – with whom Zverev shares a child – settling a lawsuit out of court.

Alexander Zverev was subject to a heckler as he was about to speak after his final loss. Picture: Martin KEEP / AFP

While Sinner said on Monday morning that he “did not understand exactly what she was screaming” at the time, Tiley said such disruptions would not be tolerated regardless of the subject matter.

“It’s Monday morning, so we haven’t followed up on (whether she will face further action),” Tiley said.

“But she was disruptive to the players in that instance, and to the rest of the fans that were enjoying the end of the final.

“And rightfully so, she should be evicted, because we don’t tolerate behaviour if it’s designed to be disruptive and that’s what her behaviour was designed to do.”

It has been reported that the woman – who was escorted from the arena by security guards – was spoken to by police and issued with “paperwork” before leaving the grounds.

Victoria Police told this masthead on Monday that no arrests had been made.

Sinner said on Monday that it was “very difficult” to manage crowds fully.

“I didn’t understand exactly what she was screaming,” he said.

Jannik Sinner couldn’t understand what was being said in the moment. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

“This kind of thing, you cannot control the whole stadium of 12 or 13,000 people, which is very very difficult. They took actions after, because it was a moment where it was not easy. “But in another way, things can happen. It was a moment where the moment for Sascha (Zverev) to talk, even if it wasn’t easy.”

Sinner consoled his counterpart during the trophy ceremony, and revealed he had encouraged the German – who has now lost three grand slam finals – to “keep believing”.

“We all saw that he was very emotional and struggling in that moment,” the champion said.

“Losing finals is never easy, especially grand slams. He was struggling. I told him to keep believing, he is an incredible player.

“He deserves a grand slam more than any other player, so I wish him only the best. I told him to just keep believing. He has a great team, a great family behind him, and he puts a lot of sacrifice to get to this stage.”

Tiley said he believed Zverev had been “very gracious” in light of the protest that rung out in the silent arena.

“I thought that Zverev gave us all a lesson on how you respond to disruption and he just moved on and was very gracious in his speech,” Tiley said.

“He’s very popular with the team behind the scenes – he’s got a great deal of humility and empathy behind the scenes. He treats the staff extremely well and we talk about Sascha on our experience with him. And it’s really a special one.

“We were very sad for him last night because he wanted nothing more than to win a grand slam. He’s always said this is the place that he wants to win that grand slam. He came close (on Sunday) night).”

Tennis has been accused of not being strong enough in its stance amid the Zverev saga, nor with allegations surrounding drug testing.

Sinner is facing a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in April relating to two positive doping tests he returned last March after the International Tennis Integrity Agency ruled the Italian should bear “no fault or negligence” after testing positive to clostebol, a prohibited steroid, deeming it to have been a contamination after a since-sacked massage therapist applied a steroid spray to his own finger before treating Sinner without gloves on.

Craig Tiley said evicting the protester was the right call. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

That finding was appealed by WADA, which maintains he should be suspended due to negligence, with CAS to determine his fate from April 16.

Tiley maintained that despite detractors, processes are being followed.

“First of all in that case particularly (Zverev), that’s been cleared from the courts and we’ve moved on,” he said.

“Jannik has handled it very well himself, as well. There’s a process that’s being played out. Tennis has a rigorous program and it’s a global one. The amounts of testing that they go through, and it’s just following its normal process. We deal with the players behind the scenes, and particularly this playing group … there isn’t anyone that creates any issues.

“They’re all fantastic.”

Originally published as Craig Tiley on heckler eviction, AO crowd numbers and Novak Djokovic’s return to Melbourne