Fans who unreasonably taunt Novak Djokovic at Australian Open to be removed by security

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley issued a stern warning to Melbourne fans amid concerns Novak Djokovic could receive a hostile reception.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley has warned fans they will be kicked out of Melbourne Park if they unfairly target controversial former world number one Novak Djokovic.

Nine time Melbourne Park champion Djokovic will return to the Open for the first time since winning in 2021, having last year been sensationally deported and having his Visa revoked on “health and good order grounds”.

There are fears that the Serbian tennis star – criticised for his anti vaxxer views – could receive a hostile reception from some Melbourne fans forced to endure the world’s longest Covid lockdowns.

But Tennis Australia chief executive and Open tournament director Tiley told the Herald Sun any fans who unreasonably taunted Djokovic would be removed by security.

“If they disrupt the enjoyment of anyone else – boom, they are out,’’ he said. “We don’t want them on site.

“They can stay away or we will kick them out.’’

Djokovic will return to the Australian Open for the first time since he was sensationally deported and had his Visa revoked on ‘health and good order grounds’.

Mr Tiley stopped short of saying there would be a boo ban but admitted he was unsure what sort of response Djokovic would receive from fans and said there would always be elements of the crowd that “got things going’’.

Security would be on alert for troublemakers, who would be removed and face potential bans from the Open depending on their behaviour, he warned. “The one thing that I always liked about Melbourne is there is a great appreciation of excellence and for sport, I think more than anywhere in Australia,” he said.

“People from Melbourne and Victoria really understand sport well, I don’t think there is another city in the world that understand it as well as we do.

“So I have an expectation that people will appreciate that and be respectful.’’

Djokovic, who landed in Melbourne on Monday fresh from his stunning Adelaide International triumph, will play at Nick Kyrgios in a supercharged charity match ahead of the Open on Friday.

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley said any fans who unreasonably taunted Djokovic would be removed by security. Picture: Mark Stewart

Prior to the Adelaide tournament Djokovic told media he would forgive but not forget the treatment he received in Australia last year.

But Mr Tiley, who drew his own share of criticism for last year’s Djokovic circus, said he spoke regularly to the tennis great’s team and expected business as usual on court.

“He is just focused on preparing and he is clearly good at compartmentalising things,’’ he said.

“I mean, I was under pressure but the pressure he was under was a different level.

“But he is a great tennis player and he will come here again and put his game on show and I’m hoping that crowds can be respectful.’’