Tennis icon Novak Djokovic could not conceal his visible disgust during a television appearance on Wednesday when confronted with surprising statistics about Australian pet owners' habits. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion appeared on Channel Nine's Australian Open edition of The Hundred quiz show alongside host Andy Lee and comedian Mike Goldstein, where he was taken aback not just by the answers but by the questions themselves.
Quiz Show Revelations Shock Tennis Great
Djokovic's dismay began with the very first question of the segment, which saw him and Goldstein attempting to guess how 100 Australians responded to various survey questions. The opening query about what percentage of Australian parents would admit to having an ugly baby left the Serbian star visibly stunned.
'Oh my god. That's weird and rude,' Djokovic told host Andy Lee, guessing 16 percent when the correct answer was actually six percent.
The Ice Cream Question That Caused Disbelief
The moment that truly made Djokovic cover his face in dismay came when Lee asked: 'What percentage of Australian dog owners would let their dog lick their ice cream?'
'What? Oh my god, I mean, this is... anything above 10 per cent will be ridiculous!' Djokovic exclaimed. When Goldstein guessed 25 percent, the tennis legend responded with another 'oh my god!'
Goldstein then intensified Djokovic's discomfort by suggesting: 'I think a lot of dog owners, a lot of them have, you know, a very close relationship with their pets. And it also depends, like, where on your body is the ice cream located?'
When Lee revealed the actual answer was 19 percent, Djokovic responded with genuine bewilderment: 'Australia, what's wrong with you?'
Other Surprising Australian Attitudes
Earlier in the segment, Djokovic had confidently answered another question about whether Australians think it's acceptable to FaceTime in public. 'I think it's an obvious yes, honestly. It's just Aussies are always outdoors, good weather, very outgoing, so I don't think they mind, to be honest,' he said.
However, the survey revealed 58 percent of Australians actually said no to public FaceTiming, proving the tennis star wrong about this cultural assumption as well.
Australian Open Campaign Continues Strong
Djokovic's television appearance followed his impressive start to the Australian Open tournament, where he delivered a vintage performance in his first-round match against Spain's Pedro Martinez on Monday night. The 38-year-old secured a commanding 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory, marking his 100th win at the Australian Open.
'I mean, what can I say? I like the sound of it,' Djokovic commented about reaching the century milestone. 'Centurion is a nice feeling. I'm blessed to be still playing, honestly, at this level. Making another win tonight is obviously a dream come true.'
The statistics speak for themselves:
- 100 wins at the Australian Open
- 102 wins at Wimbledon
- 101 wins at Roland Garros
Chasing History at Melbourne Park
Competing in his 21st Australian Open, Djokovic is pursuing a record-extending 11th title at Melbourne Park. Despite being world number four, the Serbian champion has been clear that he isn't putting undue pressure on himself to surpass Margaret Court's record for the most singles slam titles, even as younger rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner demonstrate increasing dominance.
Before the tournament began, Djokovic acknowledged he was lacking some 'juice' in his legs compared to the world's top two players during the latter stages of Grand Slams, emphasizing he would need to carefully manage his physical condition to compete deep into the competition.
His first-round performance against Martinez demonstrated exactly the kind of ruthless efficiency required for such a campaign, with Djokovic hitting 49 winners and 14 aces during the match. 'It always feels good at the beginning of the tournament, let's see how I progress,' he remarked cautiously about his championship prospects.
The television appearance provided a rare glimpse of the tennis legend's off-court personality and cultural reactions, contrasting sharply with his focused, professional demeanor during tournament play. Djokovic's genuine shock at Australian habits revealed a more personal side to the champion, even as he continues his pursuit of tennis history on the courts of Melbourne Park.
