Novak Djokovic is looking for grand slam title No. 25 at the 2024 Australian Open
(Photo: Phil Walter/Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic of Serbia speaks to the media at a press conference ahead of the 2024 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Jan. 13, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia.

You can say that again - if you have the guts, that is.

Tennis great Novak Djokovic is no stranger to hecklers, but everyone has their limit.

Before defeating Alexei Popyrin in four sets (6-3, 4-6, 7-6, 6-3) in the second round of the Australian Open at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday, Djokovic offered a male spectator who had been heckling him a chance to come down to the court, stand before him and repeat the words he'd been yelling from the seats.

"You don't wanna know," Djokovic, 36, cautioned when asked what the heckler said. "There was a lot of things being told to me on the court, particularly from that corner and the same side, the other corner. I was tolerating it for most of the match, and at one point I had enough and I asked him whether he wants to come down and tell it to my face.

"When you confront somebody, you know, unfortunately for him, he didn't have the courage to come down," added Djokovic, the tournament's defending champion. "So, that's what I was asking him. If you have courage, if you're such a, you know, tough man, tough guy, come down and tell it to my face, and let's have a discussion about it.

"He was apologizing from far away, and that's all it is."

Djokovic, who faces third-round opponent Tomas Martin Etcheverry on Friday, is looking to add another grand slam trophy to his already-record total of 24 by winning an 11th Australian Open.

Indeed, Melbourne has been a great place for the Serbian player to visit, but not merely because he's had so much success on its most prestigious tennis court.

When in town, Djokovic makes time to stop by Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, near which there's a tree he has formed a special bond with.

"There's one particular tree that I've been having (a) special relationship with, so to say, in the last 15 years," said Djokovic, who defeated Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets at the 2008 Australian Open final to pick up the first of his two dozen major titles. "I love every corner of Botanic Gardens. I think that (it's an) incredible treasure for Melbourne to have such a beautiful park and nature in the middle of the city.

"But that particular tree, I cannot reveal which one, no," laughed Djokovic, who's been spotted by locals over the years meditating at the location in between matches. "I try to keep it discrete for myself when I'm there to have my own time. I just like to connect, ground myself and connect with that old friend.

"I liked its roots and the trunk and branches and everything, so I started climbing it years ago. That's it. I have a connection."