Novak Djokovic Gives Shocking Cold Handshake After Controversial Hindrance Call at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic will face Jack Draper in Indian Wells, next, in the round of 16.

Novak Djokovic Gives Shocking Cold Handshake After Controversial Hindrance Call at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic gave a cold handshake (via Punto de Break)

In Short
  • Novak Djokovic displayed an unusually cold handshake after losing in doubles at the BNP Paribas Open.
  • The match's turning point was a controversial hindrance call against Djokovic during a rally.
  • Djokovic's focus now shifts to his singles campaign, where he aims for a record-breaking sixth title at Indian Wells.

Novak Djokovic is one of the most composed champions in tennis history. He’s won 24 Grand Slams. He’s stood across the net from the best players on the planet and, more often than not, shaken hands with a smile, win or lose. That’s just who he is.

So when Djokovic walked off the court at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and offered his opponents the coldest handshake of his career, people noticed.

Djokovic was teamed up with Stefanos Tsitsipas in doubles, a pairing that, on paper, looks like a nightmare to face. And early on, it was. The two men knocked off top seeds Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo in the opening round without breaking much of a sweat.

Then came the second round, and French cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot had other ideas. The match had plenty of fight, but the turning point had nothing to do with a spectacular winner or a momentum-swinging break of serve. Instead, it came down to a hindrance call, which is one of the most disputed and emotionally charged rulings in tennis.

Djokovic made a noise mid-rally. The umpire called it a hindrance violation. The point was gone, and so was the energy in the Djokovic/Tsitsipas corner. They dropped the match in straight sets. After the final point, Djokovic walked to the net. He shook hands, but it wasn’t the warm, genuine gesture fans have come to expect from him.

Why this Novak Djokovic moment feels too out of character

Look, players get frustrated. That’s not news. Tennis is a pressure cooker, and even the coolest heads crack sometimes. But Novak Djokovic has always been different in this regard. His post-match handshakes, regardless of how ugly a loss felt, have almost always carried a sense of dignity and respect.

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/SK)

That’s what makes this moment so jarring. Commentators covering the match were quick to point out how unusual it was, calling the reaction “out of character” for a player who has spent years carefully building his reputation as a sportsman.

He didn’t scream. He didn’t argue with the chair umpire for ten minutes. He just extended his hand, barely made eye contact, and walked away. That kind of cold professionalism hits differently because it comes from Djokovic.

He has had these moments before. In the 2013 Canadian Masters, Rafael Nadal hit the ball at him, and he didn’t take it well, despite the apology. At Monte Carlo in 2024, the Serb got hit on the back by Cameron Norrie, and he didn’t like it either.

The bigger question: What does this mean for Novak Djokovic’s singles run?

At 38, Novak Djokovic is balancing a lot. Playing doubles alongside singles at this stage of a career isn’t something most elite players bother with; it takes a physical and mental toll that compounds quickly over a two-week hard-court tournament.

Novak Djokovic (2)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Sky Sports Tennis)

After this loss, all eyes shift to his singles campaign, where he remains as dangerous as ever. Can he compartmentalize? Can he channel the frustration from this doubles defeat and use it as fuel?

Djokovic is set to play Jack Draper in the Round of 16. Draper is the defending champion at this year’s event, whereas the Serb is chasing a record-breaking sixth singles crown at Indian Wells.

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