Novak Djokovic in bizarre moment during ATP return: 'Preposterous'
Novak Djokovic may be showing signs of rust after playing his first ATP event since Wimbledon after being left confused in a hilarious moment in the Tel Aviv Open.
Djokovic defeated good friend Vasek Pospisil 7-6, 6-3 in the quarter-final of the Tel Aviv event.
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Having been off the tour since his Wimbledon victory, only having returned for the Laver Cup last week, Djokovic could be forgiven for losing track of the score.
At 5-3 in the second set, Djokovic returned to his seat believing it was a changeover.
Djokovic then was seen telling the ball kids to roll the balls to the other end for the service game.
"Has he lost the score here. I think he is telling the ball kids to roll the balls," one commentator said with a laugh.
However, much to Djokovic's embarrassment, he realised it wasn't a changeover.
The Serb walked back to serve with a sheepish look on his face after the unwitting mistake.
"I've seen some things. But that is preposterous," the other commentator said, as laughs erupted.
"He has not played for a while," the other commentator joked.
Tennis fans couldn't help but share a laugh at the hilarious moment.
That may actually be the funniest thing Novak has ever done🤣🤣🤣
— dc0531 (@dougwc1) September 30, 2022
This had me on the floor😆
— RecklessGal💋 (@danx_tusiime) September 30, 2022
Djokovic totally lost what the score was in the set, he broke to lead 5-3 but he thought it was a change of ends & sat down!!
He was even gesturing to the ball kids to send the balls down to the other end of the court😂🙈— Reggie🐺🐊 (@Reggie61823972) September 30, 2022
Novak Djokovic reaches Tel Aviv semi-final
Djokovic and Pospisil were two of the founding members of the controversial Professional Tennis Players Association three years ago.
And the 149th-ranked Pospisil did not face a break point in the opening set in what proved to be a competitive match.
He then fought back from 5-1 down in the tie-break with four points in a row before Djokovic took it, while in the second set the Serbian won the final three games after seeing an early break slip away.
"It was a great, positive win," Djokovic said in his on-court interview.
"Vasek is one of my best friends on the tour.
"We have known each other for many years. It is never easy playing someone you respect so much and like so much, but we are both professionals and wanted to win the match and you can see that.
"I think the level of tennis was really high. Especially towards the end of the first set and the second set. Credit to him for fighting. Great to see him back."
In the last four, Djokovic will take on Russian Roman Safiullin, while the other semi-final pits second seed Marin Cilic against France's Constant Lestienne.
with AAP
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