Novak Djokovic’s temper flies, fights with umpire after being slapped with warning in Shanghai Masters
Novak Djokovic overcame a sluggish start and saved set points to beat Alex Michelsen 7-6(3), 7-6(9) in a riveting second-round clash at the Shanghai Masters as the Serb inched closer to a 100th career title. En route to the win, besides being tested by the NextGen American, Djokovic also had to overcome emotions as the 37-year-old had lost his cool after being slapped with a warning.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts to a point during his men’s singles match against USA’s Alex Michelsen at the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament in Shanghai on October 5, 2024.(AFP)
The incident happened in the second set of the match, when the world No. 4 received a time violation after running down the shot clock when serving at 15-30 down. Djokovic, unhappy with the call, bounced the ball away, walked up to chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and questioned his decision. “Why do you do this man? Why do you do this man?” he asked.
Following the incident, commentator Nick Lester noted that the umpire felt bad for handing Djokovic the warning. He said: “It was almost like he didn’t want to do it. He said it with a whisper didn’t he, Mohamed Lahyani there. He knew what was coming.”
Djokovic, however, bounced back quickly to serve an ace, before holding serve. and later fought back again later in the set when Michelsen held two set points in the deciding tie-break.
“It was the first match against Alex and I also hadn’t played in a while, so it took me a little time to get the rust off,” said Djokovic, who boasts a record 35 match wins in Shanghai. “He started off terrifically; big serves and an aggressive style of tennis… he’s not afraid to step it up and take it to his opponent.
Djokovic, who was still donning a protective sleeve over his right knee, will next face the winner of the match between 28th-seeded Flavio Cobolli or former Grand Slam winner Stan Wawrinka.
Leave a Reply