Novak Djokovic got more than he bargained for when his Australian Open first round match was bizarrely interrupted.
But it wasn’t a spectator in the traditional sense who disrupted proceedings, but a seagull who decided to seize his moment for fame.
The Serbian star was preparing to serve in the fourth set of his match with American youngster Nishesh Basavareddy as he threw the ball up in the air.
However just as he was preparing to strike the ball the seagull let out a loud squawk in the background.
Taken aback by the noise, Djokovic jumped and allowed the ball to the drop the floor after his swing was interrupted, much to the amusement of the fans in attendance who laughed.
Djokovic could then be seen smiling and laughing while looking up to the sky to try and identify the culprit who had interrupted his serve.
Thankfully for the 24-time Grand Slam winner, the seagull didn’t knock him off his stride for too long as he secured victory over his opponent.
Despite losing the first set 6-4, Djokovic won the next three 6-3, 6-4 and 6-2 to secure his spot in the second round.
There he will face Jaime Faria of Portugal for a spot in the third round of the competition.
Reflecting on the win, Djokovic said: “In the end, it was a great result.
“I think he was the better player for a set and a half, and he deserves every bit of the applause that he got when he was leaving the court. It was a great performance from him.
“To be really honest with you, I had never seen him play up to maybe three days ago so I didn’t know much about him.
“These kind of matches are always tricky and dangerous, especially when you’re playing against somebody who hasn’t got anything to lose with it being his first match ever at a Grand Slam level.
“He is a very complete player and he did very pleasantly surprise me with his shots and his fighting spirit towards the end. I wish him all the best for the rest of his career.”
Of course Djokovic also had a famous face in his box with Andy Murray coaching the Serbian star at the tournament.
“I’m thrilled to have him in my corner,” Djokovic said.
“I must say that it’s a bit strange to have him courtside in my box. We played for over 20 years against each other at the highest level, so it’s nice to have him on my side of the net.
“He gave me some great advice during the match. It’s really nice to be able to exchange some feedback. It’s been a really nice experience, hopefully we don’t stop here.”
