Novak Djokovic reacts to Marcelo Melo calling him out following mixed doubles clash

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic 'could not believe' after hearing Marcelo Melo's comments about him following their mixed doubles clash at the Tokyo Olympics. Djokovic and his Serbian partner Nina Stojanovic saw off Melo and Luisa Stefani 6-3 6-4 to progress into the mixed doubles quarterfinal in Tokyo.

After the match, former world No. 1 Melo accused Djokovic of unsportsmanlike behavior. The Brazilian also suggested Djokovic wanted to intentionally hit him in the back. "Melo said I was provoking him? Seriously? I really don't have nothing to say about that," Djokovic said, as quoted on Sport Klub.

Melo 'negatively surprised' by Djokovic

"Novak surprised me but on a negative way. There was no need for that. Two days ago he filmed himself speaking about Brazil and Brazilians, our energy, and now he is behaving this way.

He had a smash directly in my back which he didn't have to play that way. But OK, this is tennis and everybody is trying to play it the way he wants. Me personally would never play that way," Melo said. "There are things I can't understand.

Why? We did nothing to him to deserve that. In one moment he almost hit Luisa. Of course, thees are Olympic Games, everything is happening on the court, he does what he does during points, but he should have some limits. Some would wonder.

I don't want to make controversies or start discussions but everyone who watched the match and is capable or reading between the lines knows what I'm talking about," Melo added. Djokovic and Stojanovic earned the first break of the match in the sixth game and then served out for the opener in the ninth game.

Djokovic and Stojanovic failed to convert a break point in the third game of the second set but broke Melo and Stefani in the seventh game. Two games later, Djokovic and Stojanovic served out for the match.