Andre Agassi Calls Out Net-Cord Tradition After Novak Djokovic’s Apology to Jannik Sinner During Wimbledon Clash

Novak Djokovic‘s Wimbledon campaign once again ended due to Jannik Sinner. In the semifinal, the Italian ace registered a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win, beating the Serb for the seventh time in his career in their 12th match.

Later in the final, Sinner outlasted Alexander Zverev and became the 10th man in the Open Era to defend the trophy at the All England Club. Because of Nole’s win in the semifinals of this year’s Australian Open, many expected another five-set battle between the former and current World No. 1, but the 39-year-old was no match for the 24-year-old.

Earlier in the match, Djokovic won a point off the net cord, and as is the custom, he immediately apologized for the same. His former coach, Andre Agassi, however, doesn’t think players need to apologize for a net-cord point.

Andrew [Castle], can we please rally to get rid of that ‘I apologize for hitting the net cord’? I really would love to see that leave the game. That’s just my personal opinion, sorry for digressing. If you hit the net cord and it doesn’t go over, I don’t see the other person apologizing: ‘Bad luck, it didn’t get over’.

Andre Agassi said on the BBC

Last year, Djokovic did not play any warm-up tournaments before Wimbledon and the US Open. And this is why his participation in any warm-up events before the US Open this year is uncertain. It was eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz who ended the Serb’s run in last year’s New York Major.

Novak Djokovic on his defeat to Jannik Sinner

Before his Wimbledon upset, Novak Djokovic played the longest quarterfinal in the history of Wimbledon. He beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in an epic match that lasted five hours and 15 minutes. At the press conference later, Djokovic was asked whether he thought defeating Jannik Sinner in the semifinal was possible following his heroic win in the last eight.

I mean, I’m proud of what I achieved three nights ago. Felix is number, what, three, fourth player in the world. Proven to myself and others that I can still play at the highest level, and I have. I reached the last four of Wimbledon. Losing in straight sets against the best player in the world, okay. It is what it is. It’s the reality you have to accept.

Novak Djokovic said at the press conference

Djokovic last won at Wimbledon in 2022 against Nick Kyrgios. He reached the final in 2023 and 2024 but lost both times to Carlos Alcaraz.

Game-wise, I wasn’t extremely happy. Like in Australia, I felt like I played on a higher level overall throughout the tournament than here. Here, yeah, kind of struggled to find that A game. It was kind of appearing in some moments in matches that I had prior to semis. Today I was just unable. I didn’t have time. I didn’t have time to really regroup and reset. He was just at cruising speed, and I couldn’t catch him.

Novak Djokovic added

While Djokovic last won a title at the 2025 Hellenic Championship, Sinner claimed his sixth title of the season in London. Before his second-round upset at the French Open, he lifted the first five Masters 1000s of the season. Sinner has now added 17 Big Titles to his trophy cabinet (five Majors, 10 Masters 1000s, and two ATP Finals).

He is on a 34-match winning streak in Masters 1000s and is scheduled to play at the Canadian Open next. The South Tyrol native had skipped the event last year but played in Cincinnati, where Alcaraz defeated him in the final.

Also read: Martina Navratilova Sees Inconsistent Play as Reason Why Novak Djokovic Is Yet to Win Another Grand Slam