What are controversies in Djokovic’s career? Is it possible to list them all?
- Thread starter socallefty
- Start date
FlatShot_V
Rookie
Nobody is gonna mention the entire head speed hoax?
They literally had him promote "his racket" in the new Head Speed launch in Monaco, where he had to climb up a stage and talk about how great this stick that he never played with is, with a straight face.
They literally had him promote "his racket" in the new Head Speed launch in Monaco, where he had to climb up a stage and talk about how great this stick that he never played with is, with a straight face.
Tennisfan339
Professional
Most of these things in your list are either fake news, unconfirmed speculations/rumors, massive exaggerations or made up controversies.
Racquet breaking and outbursts involve pretty much 90% of the tour (including Federer). Same for MTOs or toilet breaks and withdrawals.
Not sure his covid stand and the PTPA posiitions are controveries. Just opinions he owned.
No reason to be controvery regarding what his parents say or think.
"Rumored" is the key word for affairs. Jelena herself denied it and I believe her.
Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
Why would she come out and admit that and make herself look like a complete simp in front of the entire world lol
Tennisfan339
Professional
This just proves the stupidity of the "rumored affairs" controversy argument. Any tabloid / gossip site can make up lies and say X cheated on Y with Z. Last night the cousin of a friend of a friend of the cousin of a friend told me Nadal cheated on Xisca with Mirka. And the uncle of the half-brother of the father-in-law of one of these friends learnt that Daria Medvedev is having an affair with Tsitsipas. Hey I just started 2 new rumors. Doesn't make it true.
Mainad
Bionic Poster
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
No. This must get old.Lol...it never grows old.
We don't want nole to be stuck at 24. Get old now.
Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
Rumors are one thing--being seen together leaving a club late night is another
YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
Novak has many faults, no doubt about it, but at the end of the day, if we’re talking about who of the Big 3 that’s truly classy after defeats, deals with actual adversity well, welcomes and helps out the downtrodden, has a genuine good reputation behind the scenes, and who’s fans have actually treated me and people I care about well, I know who I’m picking, and no list of controversies that are out in the open (as opposed to under the cover of night) will change that.
The world’s “love” is fickle and temporary at best, its glory can all be gone in a blink, and all that’s left is those few who are for real. Fedal’s popularity won’t last forever, but Novak will always be the GOAT, and the one of the top players who tried the most to help the sport. Seeing him defeat the kind of people that tormented me in my own attempts at the sport has been one of the only positive things about following it in my experience over the years.
The world’s “love” is fickle and temporary at best, its glory can all be gone in a blink, and all that’s left is those few who are for real. Fedal’s popularity won’t last forever, but Novak will always be the GOAT, and the one of the top players who tried the most to help the sport. Seeing him defeat the kind of people that tormented me in my own attempts at the sport has been one of the only positive things about following it in my experience over the years.
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Rosstour
Talk Tennis Guru
So you are both victims of the tennis establishment?
Turning Pro
Hall of Fame
Biggest controversy?
2018-2023 Inflation era where any HEALTHY ATG would have lapped it up.
Agassi
Sampras
Federer
Nadal
Lendl
Connor
Mcenroe
Etc.
Congrats to the new 'Emerson' for taking advantage. He won 12 slams too. Congrats for the healthiest of all time to take advantage.
Don't forget Covid era in 2020 where Nole was basically beating a Zverev-Thiem competition where Fed and Nadal took the year off and Nole was basically playing vs himself on a backboard. Plus 2nd half of 2021 and all of 2023.
Fed and Nadal was injured or missing in action beyond belief after Fall 2018, and barely played, no full seasons etc. There were more part time than Agassi during the 90's.
2018-2023 Inflation era where any HEALTHY ATG would have lapped it up.
Agassi
Sampras
Federer
Nadal
Lendl
Connor
Mcenroe
Etc.
Congrats to the new 'Emerson' for taking advantage. He won 12 slams too. Congrats for the healthiest of all time to take advantage.
Don't forget Covid era in 2020 where Nole was basically beating a Zverev-Thiem competition where Fed and Nadal took the year off and Nole was basically playing vs himself on a backboard. Plus 2nd half of 2021 and all of 2023.
Fed and Nadal was injured or missing in action beyond belief after Fall 2018, and barely played, no full seasons etc. There were more part time than Agassi during the 90's.
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YellowFedBetter
Hall of Fame
Yes, he had an easy time in the later part of his career, but let’s not act like he didn’t beat Fedal 52 times and win 12 slams before that, in addition to numerous finals.
Subway Tennis
G.O.A.T.
It’s already been mentioned, but I think the biggest controversy is the PTPA. Legitimately, that organisation was started as a potential adversary to the ATP. The organisation has since crashed and burned and now does small scale advocacy, but the original intention was to partially overthrow the traditional power structure in tennis. It felt very different to the heroics of 1973. There was no plan in place. The only goal seemed to be pure disruption and chaos.
Adding new ones to the thread:
- Treatment of ballkids: Yelling at them at close range, snatching towels. Can’t stand how Novak did this in the past. I haven’t seen him do this for a long time, though. Clearly something he knew was wrong and changed.
- Being dismissed from the ATP Player council partially because he was supporting Justin Gimelstob (lol) amongst other issues with his governance. Very rare for a player of Novak’s stature to actually get forced out of an administrative leadership role in player council. This controversy is not discussed enough as it may have been the catalyst for the decision to launch PTPA
- Numerous failed business ventures like his father’s “Family Sport” business which got involved in a very ugly public dispute with Serbian officials when the Serbian Open lost it’s site lease in 2013.
- Novak’s funding of family businesses run by his brothers, which have been involved in construction project controversies including contravening permit rules, appropriating public green space for private structures and circumventing standard methods of construction transparency resulting in disputes with local government in Bosnia and Serbia.
Adding new ones to the thread:
- Treatment of ballkids: Yelling at them at close range, snatching towels. Can’t stand how Novak did this in the past. I haven’t seen him do this for a long time, though. Clearly something he knew was wrong and changed.
- Being dismissed from the ATP Player council partially because he was supporting Justin Gimelstob (lol) amongst other issues with his governance. Very rare for a player of Novak’s stature to actually get forced out of an administrative leadership role in player council. This controversy is not discussed enough as it may have been the catalyst for the decision to launch PTPA
- Numerous failed business ventures like his father’s “Family Sport” business which got involved in a very ugly public dispute with Serbian officials when the Serbian Open lost it’s site lease in 2013.
- Novak’s funding of family businesses run by his brothers, which have been involved in construction project controversies including contravening permit rules, appropriating public green space for private structures and circumventing standard methods of construction transparency resulting in disputes with local government in Bosnia and Serbia.
BlueB
Legend
Whaaat? Xisca and Mirka even go clubbing together?
Subway Tennis
G.O.A.T.
junior74
Bionic Poster
When was that? In Serbian language or Italian? Im assuming not English
MichaelNadal
Bionic Poster
He's so ridiculous lol
Gee, why don't the fans love me?
RS
Bionic Poster
Yikes really?
THUNDERVOLLEY
G.O.A.T.
Only to a pathetic, thankfully shrinking group of Federer fanatics who based their own reason to be on a player who was no GOAT, or even the Best of the Rest. Some of that teary-eyed ilk might be in this thread.
This.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Ok. So listing down all in 1 go.
1. The cheating controversy
2. Lineswoman controversy and general attitude about breaking rackets
3. Fights with fans , many a times deliberate but some nolefams don't agree for whatever reason
4. Psuedoscience
5. Not sure if this is mentioned but parents especially father talking nonsense and acting nonsensical
6. Number of retirements and injury time outs
7. Injuries that still allowed him to win the matches
8. Eggvac
9. Serbian nationalist agenda
10. Ptpa and removing kermode as atp president to put Gimbelstop in his place
11. Olympics abandoning teammate
12. Going to photo op while carrying COVID or lying on COVID test
13. Adrian tour which caused many to spread COVID
14. Novaxx agenda
Novak is actually magnet for controversies. To say it's all about establishment and NOTHING about him, would be a lie..
There are other magnets for controversies like him. Like Becker, Kyrgios. They always act like it's not their fault.
Nole is a bad boy in tennis. There are many bad boys in sports and movies..
1. The cheating controversy
2. Lineswoman controversy and general attitude about breaking rackets
3. Fights with fans , many a times deliberate but some nolefams don't agree for whatever reason
4. Psuedoscience
5. Not sure if this is mentioned but parents especially father talking nonsense and acting nonsensical
6. Number of retirements and injury time outs
7. Injuries that still allowed him to win the matches
8. Eggvac
9. Serbian nationalist agenda
10. Ptpa and removing kermode as atp president to put Gimbelstop in his place
11. Olympics abandoning teammate
12. Going to photo op while carrying COVID or lying on COVID test
13. Adrian tour which caused many to spread COVID
14. Novaxx agenda
Novak is actually magnet for controversies. To say it's all about establishment and NOTHING about him, would be a lie..
There are other magnets for controversies like him. Like Becker, Kyrgios. They always act like it's not their fault.
Nole is a bad boy in tennis. There are many bad boys in sports and movies..
Martin J
Semi-Pro
Yeah, nothing really controversial about being a nationalist, it's a legitimate choice (whether someone finds it retrograde or not, it's still legitimate). Unless it means discrimination/extermination of other ethnic groups or minorities, but that's a chauvinism and I would never confuse it with nationalism.
To me, nationalism is about loving yours (culture, language, religion, etc...), chauvinism is about hating others.
Btw, some people in Serbia consider Djoko to be way too soft for a nationalist, due to his Yugo-spread-love "campaigns" lol. But it's understandable from his position, he's a half-Croat after all.
- attempted assault of ball boy rg16, launching racket towards him, narrowly missing
- actual assault of poor old pensioner lines lady, hitting her in the throat potentially killing her
- setting up a public tennis event / party during height of covid, potentially infecting vulnerable people as a result and causing severe illness/death
- wacky anti science views
- close with extreme dictators and generals
- actual assault of poor old pensioner lines lady, hitting her in the throat potentially killing her
- setting up a public tennis event / party during height of covid, potentially infecting vulnerable people as a result and causing severe illness/death
- wacky anti science views
- close with extreme dictators and generals
sportsfan1
Legend
Cheating wawrinka out of the 2013 aus open slam with an out call on a ball that was in, maybe even inside the baseline. Novak pointed with his racquet to stan indicating ball was few feet out after the point that would have made him lose serve and have stan serve for the match.
Winning more slams in his thirties, and exploiting the cie (but credit for the fitness).
Winning more slams in his thirties, and exploiting the cie (but credit for the fitness).
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travlerajm
Talk Tennis Guru
And this doesn’t even touch on the offensive comical impressions of other players.
Lauren_Girl'
Hall of Fame
If breaking a few rackets, taking a few questionable breaks during matches, his stand on covid and alleged random rumors about affairs are his worst controversies, he'll be fine. He's no worse than any other player at the end of the day. The only difference is people don't care about other players. When Ruud takes long toilet breaks, when Medevdev throws a ball in anger and when Alcaraz smashes his racket, nobody notices because nobody cares. Nobody bothers to make lists. Simple as that.
It would take several books to list all Djokovic's good actions, at the same time. Everything he does for the players outside of the top-200. The millions and millions he gave for associations and to help tennis in general. Everything he does for his fans. His relationship with other players. The list is very long too.
It would take several books to list all Djokovic's good actions, at the same time. Everything he does for the players outside of the top-200. The millions and millions he gave for associations and to help tennis in general. Everything he does for his fans. His relationship with other players. The list is very long too.
BauerAlmeida
Hall of Fame
My two cents about the ones that have been mentioned so far.
Which one? The only time I remember him being accused of cheating was the Wawrinka match at the AO but he didn't have much to do with the situation. Wawrinka should have challenged if he though it was in and the umpire actually told him (wrongly) it was out.
Lineswoman was bad luck. I don't think breaking rackets is particularly noteworthy.
I think he only responded when provoked, can't think of a time he went out his way to fight with someone.
He does have some dumb beliefs indeed but I don't think they particularly affect others.
His father is a moron and always looking for trouble but well, he can't control him.
I don't think his amount of retirements and W.O is particularly high taking into account the matche she played. Nadal might have similar numbers? Federer is an outlier in having never retired, not the norm.
Overblown by anti-Djokovic people.
Not particularly noteworthy.
This one I don't like either, but it's a bit overblown. He's close with people from other countries from the Balkans (Goran, Ivo, Ljubo, etc) and tries to bridge people in that regard.
Don't know much the specifics about this one.
I didn't like this one, I actually think he should have played mixed and withdrawn from singles once he lost to Zverev.
I don't like that he lied but the tyrannical measures during those days pushed people to lie. In many countries you needed a permit to leave your house to go for a run, ridiculous times.
Bad decision. Good intentions but it was done very poorly.
He's been pretty pro-vaccine the only time he spoke about it, it was mainly against he COVID vaccine and not even the vaccine itself, more lile pro-choice about it.
Which one? The only time I remember him being accused of cheating was the Wawrinka match at the AO but he didn't have much to do with the situation. Wawrinka should have challenged if he though it was in and the umpire actually told him (wrongly) it was out.
Lineswoman was bad luck. I don't think breaking rackets is particularly noteworthy.
I think he only responded when provoked, can't think of a time he went out his way to fight with someone.
He does have some dumb beliefs indeed but I don't think they particularly affect others.
His father is a moron and always looking for trouble but well, he can't control him.
I don't think his amount of retirements and W.O is particularly high taking into account the matche she played. Nadal might have similar numbers? Federer is an outlier in having never retired, not the norm.
Overblown by anti-Djokovic people.
Not particularly noteworthy.
This one I don't like either, but it's a bit overblown. He's close with people from other countries from the Balkans (Goran, Ivo, Ljubo, etc) and tries to bridge people in that regard.
Don't know much the specifics about this one.
I didn't like this one, I actually think he should have played mixed and withdrawn from singles once he lost to Zverev.
I don't like that he lied but the tyrannical measures during those days pushed people to lie. In many countries you needed a permit to leave your house to go for a run, ridiculous times.
Bad decision. Good intentions but it was done very poorly.
He's been pretty pro-vaccine the only time he spoke about it, it was mainly against he COVID vaccine and not even the vaccine itself, more lile pro-choice about it.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
You see you are trying to argue on the points but I just mentioned the controversies.. just the fact that we have to argue on such points means his career is full of controversies.
I don't agree that most of these are overblown. But just for example the lines woman issue is not bad luck. He has narrowly escaped this same thing in Roland Garros 2016 where he won ncygs. He missed ball boy by less than a foot. Same thing happened in ATP finals 2015 or 16 and the guy actually argued vs rothenberg that you guys are unfair and everyone does it. When the fact is not many do it and those who do usually get caught in time. So he kept getting lucky actually. Not unlucky one time.
In the end the saying goes you **** around then find out.
This image above is perfect to explain Djokovic. The guy just lights up too many fires and when we fan somehow try to explain and put out one fire, next one is already lit.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
Djokovic is the bad boy of tennis. He loves to stirr controversy.
beltsman
G.O.A.T.
And maybe some people disagree? That's what makes... controversy.
Subway Tennis
G.O.A.T.
Agree.You see you are trying to argue on the points but I just mentioned the controversies.. just the fact that we have to argue on such points means his career is full of controversies.
I don't agree that most of these are overblown. But just for example the lines woman issue is not bad luck. He has narrowly escaped this same thing in Roland Garros 2016 where he won ncygs. He missed ball boy by less than a foot. Same thing happened in ATP finals 2015 or 16 and the guy actually argued vs rothenberg that you guys are unfair and everyone does it. When the fact is not many do it and those who do usually get caught in time. So he kept getting lucky actually. Not unlucky one time.
In the end the saying goes you **** around then find out.
This image above is perfect to explain Djokovic. The guy just lights up too many fires and when we fan somehow try to explain and put out one fire, next one is already lit.
Mustard
Bionic Poster
Another injury controversy at the 2023 Australian Open (i.e. torn hamstring). The 2021 Australian Open was a torn abdominal muscle. He somehow won both these tournaments with these injuries.
Clay lover
Legend
Fairest Djokofan ever. Kudos
Incognito
Legend
In 2012, wimbledon organizers discovered Novak was wearing shoes that were not allowed. Something with spikes on the edges that enabled him to slide and not lose balance. They made him file off the spikes. He had already played a couple of rounds before that Discovery though. The question is, have they checked his shoes the other years he played there?
That was also the same year they made Fed change shoes because they were too colorful.
That was also the same year they made Fed change shoes because they were too colorful.
nolefam_2024
Bionic Poster
That was 2013
Incognito
Legend
Where?
socallefty
G.O.A.T.
What would be the top 3?
- AO deportation
- USO20 disqualification
What would be the 3rd?
- AO deportation
- USO20 disqualification
What would be the 3rd?
