Advertisement

'Should be ashamed': Uproar over 'disgusting' Novak Djokovic act

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·4-min read
Novak Djokovic, pictured here screaming at the umpire before walking off court.
Novak Djokovic screamed at the umpire before walking off court. Image: Tennis TV

Novak Djokovic screamed at the chair umpire before walking off the court in an angry outburst at the Italian Open on Tuesday.

The World No.1 completely lost his cool as rain in Rome held up his second-round match against Taylor Fritz.

'NOT COMFORTABLE': Naomi Osaka's staggering admission

'SO SAD': Fans gutted by fresh Bianca Andreescu setback

The Serbian, back in action after sitting out the Madrid Open last week, had taken the opening set 6-3 before moving a break ahead in the second to lead 5-4.

But Djokovic was left furious when he failed to serve out the match as Fritz rallied to level at 5-5.

Djokovic vented at the chair umpire that he hadn't suspended play yet as rain lashed the court.

"How much more do you want to play?" Djokovic screamed at the umpire.

"I asked you three times, you are not checking anything."

Djokovic then stormed into the court-side tunnel to escape the rain before the match was finally suspended.

Fans watching the action were highly critical of Djokovic's outburst, with some describing his treatment of the umpire as "unacceptable" and "disgusting".

However many more believed he was right to be angry due to the dangerous conditions.

Djokovic apologises to umpire for outburst

The match was halted for three hours before Djokovic secured a 6-3 7-6(5) victory. To his credit, he did apologise to the umpire when play resumed.

All the other men's matches for the day were cancelled.

Djokovic said he had been struggling with the court conditions before the players were sent off the court.

"It's not the first time or probably the last that I'm going to experience such conditions," Djokovic told Amazon Prime.

"And even with that much experience behind me I still get upset and lose my cool.

"But it's OK. At the end of the day these are great lessons - I will try and take away some important things from this day."

Novak Djokovic, pictured here sheltering under an umbrella at the Italian Open.
Novak Djokovic shelters under an umbrella at the Italian Open. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Djokovic was disqualified from last year's US Open after accidentally hitting a female line judge with a ball during his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta.

Chasing a sixth title in Rome, Djokovic will play the winner of the match between Britain's Cameron Norrie and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the round of 16.

Davidovich Fokina pulled off an unexpected 6-4 7-6 (2) win over 16th seed Grigor Dimitrov and will meet British No.2 Norrie, who defeated Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4 6-4.

Home player Lorenzo Sonego celebrated his birthday by beating 14th seed Gael Monfils 6-4 5-7 6-4 in the first round, which was the Frenchman's first match since February 8 when he picked up a calf injury at the Australian Open.

Kei Nishikori was handed a walkover in his second-round match against 11th seed Pablo Carreno Busta.

No.8 seed Diego Schwartzman was beaten 6-1 6-3 by Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, who moves into the third round.

Ninth seed and home favourite Matteo Berrettini, who was runner-up in Madrid on Sunday, came from behind to beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6 6-2 6-4.

with agencies

Watch 'Mind Games', the new series from Yahoo Sport Australia exploring the often brutal mental toil elite athletes go through in pursuit of greatness:

Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.