Djokovic chided the referee in the second set of his semi-final. Credit: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Novak Djokovic was stunned during his Wimbledon semi-final after a 'rubber signal' from the referee cost him a point.
The incident occurred in the middle of an extensive rally in the fifth game of the second set. Djokovic was forced to respond to Yannick Sinner's sharp forehand right on the tram tracks. He stretched out and arched his back, his legs moving in opposite directions as he tried to shoot. But he did play. And as he swept down the line, apparently to score a point, he let out a triumphant yell, obviously delighted that he had reached it, as well as that he was the winner.
However, the judge took a different point of view . “Interference,” he called. And the point was given to the Sinner.
🗣 “INTERFERENCE!”
Is this tough on Novak Djokovic? 👀#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/DIvJMx8ldR
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport), July 14, 2023
The rules of tennis of the International Tennis Federation state: “If a player is prevented from playing a point due to the intentional action of the opponent(s), the player must win the point. However, a point must be replayed if a player is prevented from playing the point either by inadvertent action by the opponent(s) or by something beyond the player's control (not including a permanent fixture).
Djokovic looked distressed, as if this was the latest example of the establishment's efforts to stifle his ambitions. He first squatted down, looking at the crowd for an acknowledgment that he had been offended, and then approached the judge's chair. In the stands, his complaints were clearly audible. “What are you, don?” he asked official Richard Hay.
His point was clear: he reacted loudly to the difficulty of the shot, not to scare off the enemy. And it was difficult to understand whether this quarrel bothered the Sinner or not. After all, he was far from returning Djokovic. And there seems to have been little intentional about it; it wasn't a Maria Sharapova-style tactical grunt. Indeed, the crowd, inclined to always side with rival Djokovic in any case, seemed taken aback by the interference. There was no applause, no booing, just a hum of chatter as everyone turned to the man next to them to ask what had just happened and why.
The BBC comment was equally surprised when Tim Henman remarked: “I have never seen this before.”
Former Grand Slam doubles champion Toud Woodbridge, also in the comments, added: “I feel like Richard has been waiting a long time to make that call.”
I'm not sure he should interfere in the match like he just did.
“I think maybe it could have been a word to Novak during the shift just to be aware before saying it. It's rough.”
The Serbian's paranoia barely dissipated after a couple of games when he was called out for serving too long. He turned away again, as if he were the victim of systematic prejudice. But this time there were no objections: the clock on the scoreboard showed that he really did toss the balls for too long before serving.
You can never back down in an argument with officials, later in the match, after sending another scorching winner, Djokovic mimicked the crying gesture. Then he turned on his heels and returned to his posture, muttering loudly. It was the answer that caused a flurry of cheers from the stands.
Novak Djokovic's reaction to the crowd 🥲#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/rgtWTVKC5x< /p>— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 14, 2023
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