Journo 'attacks' Novak Djokovic in extraordinary Wimbledon press conference

Novak Djokovic has been taken to task by a journalist in a fiery press conference at Wimbledon.

The World No.1 cruised into the third round on Wednesday with a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Denis Kudla.

However he had a much more uncomfortable time in the press room afterwards.

The president of the ATP Player Council came under fire for his continued defence of former ATP board member Justin Gimelstob, who recently stood down after pleading ‘no contest’ to a battery charge after attacking a man in front of his wife and child.

Despite this, Djokovic has continued to support Gimelstob and admitted to meeting with him prior to Wimbledon.

On Wednesday, a journalist absolutely grilled Djokovic about Gimelstob, asking if he’d read the victim impact statements from victim Randall Kaplan and his wife, who suffered a miscarriage in the aftermath of the attack.

“I will read it. I haven’t read it,” he said, contradicting a recent tweet from fellow Player Council member Vasek Pospisil, who stated in April that the council would read the impact statements in full.

“I’ve spoken to Justin. He has explained to me that he still is going through the process, the legal process. He’s not done yet on the court. Obviously I know only his side of the story.

“I’ve had, as I mentioned before, a really good relationship with Justin. I think he needs to take time to deal with this serious matter.

“If he in the end of this whole process is proven guilty, I mean, obviously there is no support from my side for him to be part of the sport.”

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When the reporter told Djokovic that Gimelstob was officially deemed guilty under the no contest ruling, the World No.1 said: “Listen, I will go through the documents. I can speak to you next time.”

“There is no reason for you to attack me.

“I just don’t feel it is necessary for you to point a finger at me specifically for something that he has or hasn’t done.

“There is no reason for you to talk to me in that way because I feel like you’re pointing the guilt at me for some reason for what he has done or for supporting him.

“I am telling you I have a very good relationship with him, and I always have. I’m not going to lie about that.

“But if he is guilty about committing a crime, as you said, or whatever has happened that night, that obviously changes things around for his future role in our sport.

“But if that is not the case, then I’m just saying, if that is not the case, then he is a huge asset for our sport and our players.”

Djokovic eases into next round

Djokovic trails Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal in many of the game's most important metrics, but when it comes to consistently reaching the third round at Wimbledon he leaves his rivals in his wake.

The Serb dismantled Kudla with ruthless efficiency and just enough flamboyance to satisfy the Centre Court crowd.

That put him in the last 32 at the All England Club for the 11th straight year, a professional-era mark only surpassed by American Jimmy Connors - and one more than the game's most decorated player Federer.

Consistency has become the Serb's hallmark. While he may lack the shotmaking brilliance of Federer or the raw power and energy of Nadal, he rarely allows his level to slip below a supremely high watermark.

Which makes slip-ups against those plying their trade at the level of Kudla an exceptionally rare occurrence.

"Consistency was one of the keys and focus points of my Grand Slam career going back 10 years - I always aim to play my best in Grand Slams," he said after a one-hour-and-33-minute stroll that only occasionally flickered into life as a contest.

"I guess the quality of tennis that I produce in the slams is pretty high. That's what allows me to have the results like this."

with AAP