Footage from Novak Djokovic's Serbia Open loss exhibits Djokovic shedding management of his racket which launched towards the ball boy.
Getty Photos, Twitter
Novak Djokovic’s comeback tour isn’t going precisely to plan.
Footage from the world No. 1’s Serbia Open loss to Russia’s Andrey Rublev on Sunday exhibits Djokovic’s racket flying out of his hand towards a ball boy. Followers and analysts are scratching their heads to find out whether or not the racket throw was intentional or not.
After shedding a degree within the match, Djokovic’s racket was despatched spiraling towards the ball boy, who deftly dodged the projectile. Clips present that the racket was thrown from nicely behind the baseline to the ball boy’s location close to the online. Footage from different angles make it seem as if Djokovic misplaced management of his racket as he tried to return Rublev’s floor stroke.
Tennis reporter Ben Rothenberg wrote in a now-deleted tweet, “Unhealthy information is that he, like others on ATP, nonetheless has an actual downside with launching reckless projectiles in anger that hit/practically hit of us.”
Whereas the circumstances surrounding the racket by means of stay murky, Djokovic has a protracted historical past of racket abuse.
The 34-year-old was criticized for his flameout on the Tokyo Olympics final summer time when he launched his racket into the empty stands and smashed one other following his bronze medal match defeat by the hands of Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta.
In 2020, the 20-time Grand Slam champion was disqualified from the U.S. Open after hurling his racket towards a match official.
Rublev clinched the match and the Serbia Open crown 6-2, 6-7 (4-7), 6-0, denying Djokovic his first title of the yr.
The highest-ranked participant has has solely competed 3 times since his contentious deportation from Australia in January. In his earlier two tournaments, Djokovic was eradicated within the quarterfinals on the Dubai Open and within the second spherical of the Monte-Carlo Masters. Djokovic is working towards defending his French Open title.
“Issues are progressing slowly however certainly, Paris is the large objective and hopefully by Paris I’ll be prepared,” Djokovic stated. “I apologize due to the best way the third set unfolded. It’s a person sport, when one thing fails, the engine can’t work.
Djokovic is contemplating boycotting Wimbledon this yr as a result of match’s ban on all Russian and Belarusian gamers as a consequence of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Post a Comment