Djokovic was disqualified from the Australian Open 2026 after an angry ball smash that almost hit a ball kid – A storm of controversy over behavior and sportsmanship erupted.

Melbourne, January 25, 2026 – In a shocking development at the Australian Open 2026, Novak Djokovic – legendary tennis player with 24 Grand Slam titles – was officially disqualified from the tournament by the organizers. The incident happened right after the out-of-control action in the third round match, when Djokovic hit the ball angrily and the ball flew close to a ball kid’s head, just a few inches away.

After carefully reviewing the video and Grand Slam regulations, the Australian Open organizers affirmed that such dangerous behavior could not be tolerated, leading to the decision to immediately remove Djokovic from the tournament.

The incident occurred during the third round match between Djokovic and Botic van de Zandschulp (Netherlands, ranked 75th in the world) at Rod Laver Arena. Djokovic was leading 6-3, 4-2 in set 2 when he lost a point after a long return from his opponent. In a moment of frustration, he hooked the ball strongly to the left side of the field, straight towards the ball kid sitting near the net. The ball flew at high speed, almost hitting the ball girl’s head – who was able to narrowly avoid it.

If hit, the consequences could be serious, similar to the 2020 US Open incident when Djokovic was disqualified because the ball hit the line judge’s neck.

According to the Grand Slam 2026 regulations (based on the Grand Slam rulebook), the act of “violently, dangerously or with anger hitting, kicking or throwing a tennis ball” (violently, dangerously or with anger hitting, kicking or throwing a ball) within the tournament grounds is a serious violation, unless in the reasonable pursuit of points. Chair umpire John Blom looked at Djokovic with stern eyes immediately, and after consulting tournament referee Wayne McKewen, the decision to disqualify was made.

This is the second time Djokovic has been defaulted at a Grand Slam – the previous time was the 2020 US Open, for the same reason.

Djokovic immediately ran to check on the ball kid, apologizing to her and the audience. In the press conference after the incident (before the official decision), he admitted: “I’m sorry for that action. It was unnecessary. In the heat of the moment… I was lucky because I didn’t hit anyone. I’m sorry for causing worry to the ball kid or anyone.” However, the apology did not change the verdict.

The Australian Open organizing committee issued a statement: “We do not tolerate any behavior that threatens the safety of staff, players or spectators. After careful consideration, the decision to disqualify is applied to protect the spirit of sportsmanship and general safety.”

The incident caused a storm of global public opinion. On social networks, opinions are clearly divided: one side criticizes Djokovic for “losing control”, “having emotional control problems” and saying that he has “been favored for too long” (many people recall previous incidents such as smashing rackets and arguing with referees). The other side defended, saying “it was just a moment of anger, not intentionally harming anyone”, and criticized the organizers for being “too harsh” because Djokovic is aiming for a record of 25 Grand Slams.

On Reddit (/r/tennis and /r/sports), thousands of comments discuss: “If you win, default immediately, but what about almost winning? The rules need to be clearer.” Many experts such as Jim Courier (Nine Network commentator) commented that this ball smash “had a stronger speed than the 2020 US Open”, making the risk higher.

The incident also raises big questions about safety regulations at Grand Slam tournaments. The Australian Open is taking place in extreme weather conditions (heat above 38°C), causing many players to feel stressed and easily lose control. Previously, Naomi Osaka withdrew due to injury, Stan Wawrinka ended his career at AO after 22 years.

Djokovic – who just achieved 400 Grand Slam wins and 102 wins at AO (equal to Federer’s record) – was suddenly eliminated, causing the tournament to lose a top candidate. Many people predict that he may appeal to the ITF or ATP, but according to regulations, the tournament referee’s decision is final at the Grand Slam.

The consequences for Djokovic are serious: losing the opportunity to win the AO championship for the 11th time (record), affecting scores and rankings (although he still holds the top 1-2), and another stain on his legendary career. At the age of 38, he is still a symbol of resilience, but incidents related to emotional control (from 2020 to present) have made a part of the public question “sportsmanship”. AO organizers emphasized: “Safety is the top priority.

We will continue to apply strict regulations to protect everyone involved.”

This event is not only an interrupted match but also a great lesson for the tennis world: whether legends or young players, no one is above the law. Djokovic, with millions of fans, now has to face the harsh truth: one moment of loss of control can end the Grand Slam dream. Meanwhile, the Australian Open 2026 continues with exciting quarter-final matches, but the echoes of Djokovic’s “near-killing shot” will be mentioned for a long time.