Novak Djokovic wasn’t making too many friends in Flushing Meadows on Tuesday.
The Serbian star complained to the chair umpire over the noise the U.S. Open crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium was making while he was trying to serve during the third set of his quarterfinals 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 win over Taylor Fritz.
During the fourth game of the third set, Djokovic faulted while trying to serve with the game sitting at 40-40.
Djokovic became clearly agitated as he started to appeal to chair umpire Damien Dumusois to do something about the crowd. That only elicited more boos as Djokovic shouted at the official.
Djokovic asking the umpire to do something about the crowd making noise while he’s trying to serve in his match against Fritz at U.S. Open
Novak: “What are you gonna do?”
Umpire: “It’s not gonna help Novak” pic.twitter.com/ukR100mLGj
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) September 3, 2025
“What are you going to do?” Djokovic asked frustratedly. “What are you saying? ‘Thank you. Please. Thank you. Please.’”
“Explain a little bit more,” he continued.
“I just made [an announcement] when both players are ready, stop shouting,” Dumusois retorted to Djokovic.
The answer didn’t appear to satisfy Djokovic, and Dumusois had one final message to him as he walked away.
“It’s not gonna help, Novak,” Dumosois said.
Fritz rode the momentum to take the third set and force a fourth set in the epic match, but the American fell short.
Djokovic was also spotted blowing kisses at the crowd after he had taken the second set.
The crowd seemed to have come back around on Djokovic by the end of the night, as they applauded the hard-fought victory, especially after he dedicated the win to his daughter, Tara, for her birthday.
“This is a big present for her,” he told the crowd as he made a heart with his hands to the delight of the fans.
Djokovic advances to face Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals on Friday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
