Novak Djokovic explodes with rage and argues with Alexander Zverev over ‘most stupid rule’
Novak Djokovic was left furious with the umpires during his China Open quarter-final with Alexander Zverev after being on the end of what he described as the ‘most stupid change of rules’. Djokovic was taking on the two-time Grand Slam winner at a tournament he’s never lost at, but during the opening set, tensions flared between the pair. It came after Djokovic won a point, with Zverev immediately complaining to the umpire, which prompted boos from the audience. Zverev was pleading his case, claiming the advertising boards changed as he hit his return, with the officials opting to check a video replay of the incident.
Upon review, the footage showed the boards changed just before the point, not during, but it was still ordered to be replayed. Djokovic wasn’t happy with the decision, and the Serb was quick to let umpire Adel Nour know about it.
Nour remarked: “We will have a video review to check if the side panel changed during the point,” with an unhappy Djokovic replying: “I served, he played another shot, is that OK? Like that, it changed there. He played after the serve. It doesn’t make any sense.”
By this point, Zverev had also stuck his nose in, with the German biting back: “I didn’t know about the challenge, that’s why I came to him and asked,” to which an increasingly angry Djokovic said: “But then you [should] stop after the serve? this must be the most stupid change of rules I’ve ever heard in my life. It makes no sense. We could play a 30-shot rally and he could lose the point and say: ‘OK, I’m going to challenge now.
The Sky Sports commentary team were equally puzzled, with Nick Lester saying: “I’ve never seen that before. Obviously the VAR is there to be used,” while Annabel Croft replied: “This is absolutely fascinating. I have never, ever seen this. It would be a first if they replayed the point.”
With Croft adding: “It changed before the point. I guess there they should have stopped the point… I think Djokovic is right. I’ve never seen anything so ridiculous in my life. I cannot believe they have made this decision.
Plenty of people were in support of the 24-time Grand Slam winner on social media, with @TimTyrrellNY writing on X: I’m not a fan of Djokovic at all but he has a point here. Zverev serves, Djokovic hits the return, Zverev miss the next shot and then challenges that when he served the screens in the arena changed causing him to be distracted.”
@rr_iir1 simply put: “A crazy decision by the umpire in the Djokovic vs Zverev match.”
While @nishikoripicks didn’t hold back: “Can you imagine Alcaraz, Sinner, or even Djokovic asking for the point to be replayed? Me neither. Really bad from Zverev.
