A MUM has angrily denied snatching Novak Djokovic's Australian Open shirt from a teenager, and declared the sweaty souvenir is hers for the keeping.

Yael Rothschild said she was hurt, and her three daughters very upset, by any suggestion the apparel she souvenired had been grabbed from schoolgirl Melissa Cook, 14, or that it had even been intended for her.

Melissa had appealed for the return of a top that was among garments the celebrating champion tossed into the centre court crowd.

She claimed a woman in the crowd had snatched it from her.

But Mrs Rothschild denied she had snatched her shirt from Melissa.

"When the shirt was thrown, there would have been 20 excited people, all with their hands out," she said.

"After (it had been) thrown, there would have been 19 disappointed people.

"Such is life. I am not sure how you can snatch out of the hands (of) someone sitting three seats away from you with a barrier between the seating," she said.

Djokovic used several shirts during the final.



Mrs Rothschild said she had not seen Melissa cry after missing a shirt.

She said she thought Melissa had caught other items of clothing tossed by the champion into the crowd after Sunday night's epic final.

"She was seen holding his sweat band, his towel and his shoe - not a bad night's winnings."

Melissa denied this, saying she had taken along items that had been caught by relatives during the 2011 Open.

"And the towel she saw me with wasn't even Djokovic's - it was given to me by an official," Melissa said.

Mrs Rothschild said she was a regular in seats close to centre court.

"Djokovic was so gracious to all his fans that he stayed back for a very long time, putting his autograph to the souvenirs of literally hundreds patiently waiting courtside after the match and formalities, T-shirt included," she said.

"And I'm keeping it. I'm a huge fan."