Novak Djokovic (right) appears to have avoided eye contact with Cameron Norrie after their match in Rome. Photo: Getty Images/Tiziana Fabi
Novak Djokovic has accused Cameron Norrie of “foul play” after the British No. 1 hit him in the body with an overhead kick during a capricious match in Rome.
First world racket Djokovic said he was puzzled by the behavior of Norrie during the meeting of the 1/8 finals in Rome. According to the statistics, the match looked routine – Djokovic won 6-3, 6-4 – but there were many incidents along the way.
“Maybe it wasn’t so much about that,” Djokovic said of the body shot, “but maybe it was a combination of several things. From the very beginning, I don't know, he did everything that was allowed. He is allowed to take a medical time-out. He is allowed to hit the player. He's allowed to say “come on” to his face more or less after every point mostly from the first game.
“That's what we players know in the dressing room, it's not a fair game,” Djokovic added. “It's not how we treat each other. But then again, it's allowed, so…”
Norrie's opinion on the match is not yet known, but it is possible that he could feel dissatisfied with Djokovic's late entry to the court 10 minutes later than the scheduled start time. This was due to an ailment that Djokovic felt during the warm-up and which required treatment.
What happened there? 😳#IBI23 pic.twitter.com/anA3ZvqVjj
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV), May 16, 2023
Even before the direct hit, which happened in the middle of the second set, there was an additional advantage in the scrum. Djokovic glared at Norrie after he landed a powerful blow to the back of his left ankle/calf.
However, from Norrie's point of view, it can be argued that he was looking at the ball from the bottom up. – a gentle and juicy cross right over the net – and thus could not notice that his opponent is going back to the service line, not intending to continue the rally.
Although Norrie immediately apologized, he did so briefly and then went about his business. Judging by the way Djokovic reacted, he expected something more sincere. The next time the two men's paths crossed, as they returned to their shift chairs, he looked back at Norrie.
Whatever the good and the bad, provoking Djokovic is usually not recommended. Although a direct hit allowed Norrie to score his only innings break of the match, Djokovic soon regained his lead. He filed for the win exactly 90 minutes later, despite Norrie taking a timeout with a hip flexor problem on the final sub.
Cameron Norrie needed treatment due to a hip injury. Photo: REUTERS/Alexandra Shmigel
The two men shook hands, but this did not happen. the warmest meeting on the net, and there was almost no eye contact.
“I was watching a replay when he hit me,” Djokovic said afterwards. “Maybe you could say that he didn't hit me on purpose. I don't know if he saw me. I mean peripherally [sic] you can always see where the player is on the court. The ball was very slow and very close to the net. I just turned around because it was over for me.
“I got along really well with Cameron all those years he was on tour. Practice with each other. He's a very nice guy off the court, so I don't understand the attitude on the court, to be honest.
Thus, Djokovic, the reigning champion of Rome, reached the quarterfinals. He will face the exciting 20-year-old Danish prospect Holger Rune, who took three sets to beat Aussie Alexei Popyrin.
But even if Djokovic wins the title for an incredible seventh time, he is still guaranteed to lose first place in world ranking Carlos Alcaraz, who suffered a devastating loss to world No. 135 Fabian Maroján at the end of this tournament on Monday.
“You could tell Cam had his eyes on the ball,” said Amazon Prime commentator Mark Petchey. in your post-match analysis – but as a tennis player, you know where your opponent is in this situation. By the fact that he didn't apologize twice, you know he meant it.”
In the women's event, Iga Swiatek won her third consecutive straight set victory, overtaking No. 21 Donna. Vekic will advance to the quarterfinals. Tuesday's 95-minute meeting with Vekic was considered a harsh test by Swiatek's recent standards. The world No. 1 has lost seven games in her 6-3, 6-4 win, five more than she lost in her previous two games combined.
Recent Comments