“Unsportsmanlike Fraud”- Fans Question Legitimacy of Novak Djokovic’s Medical Time Out During Wimbledon 1st Round

Novak Djokovic survived an injury scare to secure a berth in the second round of Wimbledon on Tuesday (July 1) by knocking out Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1, 6-7(9), 6-2, 6-2. Fans, however, questioned the legitimacy of his fitness concerns.

After easily winning the first set, the Serb squandered six set points in the second set, eventually losing it. While Muller was firing on all cylinders, Djokovic, it seemed, would have become the ninth top 10 player from both the men’s and women’s events to suffer an opening-round upset, joining his fellow ATP players Alexander Zverev, Lorenzo Musetti, Holger Rune, and Daniil Medvedev.

During the second set, he held his chest to help him breathe properly before eventually he called for the doctor. Twice he received treatments from the doctor, and it did him good because in the next two sets, Muller could win just four games.

Following the match, Djokovic said he was unsure about what he was dealing with. He thinks he was perhaps struggling due to a stomach bug and the doctor’s “miracle pills” helped him recover.

Fans slam Novak Djokovic for taking medical timeout against Alexander Muller

Tennis fans remain unconvinced that Novak Djokovic indeed struggled due to an illness. His medical timeouts often are considered a part of his tactics, perhaps to fool the opponent into thinking that he was struggling or to shift the momentum in his favor. This time, too, a section of fans on social media accused him of faking the illness.

Check out their reactions here:

It is 2025 and Novak Djokovic is *still* using 'illness'/'injury' as a legitimate tactic to disrupt his opponent. He has done it his entire career, and why I struggle to see him as one of the greats, regardless of his success.

— Luke D (@TheQuietLAD) July 1, 2025

How is it that every time the player who starts to play well Djokovic all of a sudden needs the doctor or the pyhsio pure drama queen just get on with it anything to put the other player off it irritates the life out of me

— Michelle Kelly (@Michell70746071) July 1, 2025

#Djokovic again appears to be digging into his tool box of tricks. Asks for physio & takes a MTO when there's a little bit of resistance from opponent #Muller. Definitely he must be the Guinness record holder for most MTOs in tennis history. #Wimbledon Definitely time for… pic.twitter.com/NGEVTx0HgC

— Hidden truth Guru (@rajeshworld) July 1, 2025

You can just write the script every time, Djokovic playing lights out, opponent suddenly has a good set, Djokovic then feels unwell and needs a Dr. Let's wait and see the miraculous recovery. Every single time

— Naomi🐕🍷🎾🏉🐎🐶💙 🇺🇦 (@sarahnaomiwood) July 1, 2025

Let's not pretend like he ain't been doing this medical timeout fiasco bullshit when things ain't going right since he was 21, come on guys 😂 he's the goat but he knows what he's doing. Breaking rhythm is a cheap and easy trick. #Wimbledon #Djokovic

— Daniel Howard (@DanHoward1010) July 1, 2025

“If he’s feeling poorly, his tennis is not showing it!” There’s absolutely nothing wrong with him, he’s just an unsportsmanlike fraud #Djokovic

— Joe (@Jophes86) July 1, 2025

Djokovic is such a fraud, immediately pulls a medical time out when his opponent is doing well to throw off their rhythm😤 #Wimbledon #Wimbledon2025

— 🌶🌶🌶 (@j_swizzle_123) July 1, 2025

i am so sick of djokovics pathological need to have those mtos and physical challenges 💀 we all know ure faking bro

— mady 🦭 (@theWAGproject) July 1, 2025

Textbook Djokovic 'I'm not playing great so I'll take a medical timeout even though there's no signs of me being remotely injured' move to make sure he gets the crowd back on side and acting like he's playing on against all the odds.

— Red Sulk 💥 (@BigRedSulk) July 1, 2025

This is the side I really dislike about Djokovic, he isn’t playing well so takes a medical break, takes on board more fluids from the ‘magic bottle’ and also gets the crowd back on side as they think he’s injured and battling on 🙄 #Wimbledon

— NeilGakhal (@NeilGakhal) July 1, 2025

When he was up against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinal of this year’s Australian Open, he received treatment on his thigh and eventually handed a walkover to Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. Amid criticism of him faking his injury, he was forced to share the MRI scan of his injured hamstring on social media.

Since 2024, twice injuries forced him to withdraw from Grand Slam events. Last year at the French Open, he pulled out of the quarterfinal against Casper Ruud due to a torn meniscus on his knee.

Novak Djokovic thinks he has a chance to win his 25th Major at Wimbledon

Many from the tennis world think this Wimbledon is the last chance for the 38-year-old to win his 25th Grand Slam title. Even Djokovic believes that Wimbledon gives him the best chance to claim another Major because here, he was the finalist in the last six seasons, losing in the previous two finals to World No.2 Alcaraz.

I think I always have a chance. I think I earned my right to really feel like I can go all the way to the title. In the last decade, last six editions I played six finals. So you know always enjoyed myself playing on this court except when I played Alcaraz (laughs) in the last couple of years but other than that, it was great.

Novak Djokovic said during his on-court interview

That four top 10 players have crashed out of the tournament didn’t make Djokovic’s campaign easier. He still might have to deal with Alcaraz if both of them reach the final but before that, Djokovic, in the semifinals could run into none other than World No.1 Jannik Sinner, who was the reason behind his exit at this year’s French Open (lost in the semifinals).

Djokovic will next lock horns with home favorite Dan Evans, who knocked out compatriot Jay Clarke. While Djokovic is chasing his eighth Wimbledon title, the 35-year-old has never progressed beyond the third round.

If the 24-time Grand Slam champion progresses to the quarterfinal, he could set up a clash with British No.1 Jack Draper. Djokovic has not yet won a Major since the 2023 US Open.

Also read: Grigor Dimitrov Makes Hilarious Ibiza Comment on Carlos Alcaraz After Advancing at Wimbledon