WATCH: “Who does he think he is?” – Novak Djokovic’s intense DEATH STARE to Cameron Norrie after he ‘unintentionally’ hit him has left fans upset

Novak Djokovic passed an intense glare towards his opponent Cameron Norrie after he accidentally hit him during his serve.

WATCH: “Who does he think he is?” – Novak Djokovic’s intense DEATH STARE to Cameron Norrie after he ‘unintentionally’ hit him has left fans upset

Cameron Norrie and Novak Djokovic( Credits: Sky Sports and The Japan Times)

Novak Djokovic has booked his quarterfinal seat at the Rome Open, after defeating British player Cameron Norrie in straight sets. During the match, the Serbian glared at the World No. 13 after he accidentally hit him while returning the serve on the net. Djokovic’s behavior caught the attention of tennis fans, who voiced their discontent with his act. 

The US Open champion had an ‘unsteady’ start to his clay season. He faced early defeats in the Monte-Carlo Masters and Banja Luka and later withdrew from Madrid, citing issues with his elbow. His back-to-back disappointing performances raised questions regarding his preparations for the upcoming championship in Paris. With his arrival in Rome, the 35-year-old is appearing to be in ‘good shape’, with the aim of achieving his seventh title of the tournament. 

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After winning his round of 16 matches, Djokovic stated that he was quite pleased with his performance, as he overcame the unexpected rain factor. The Australian Open champion has reached the quarterfinals of the Rome Open for the 17th consecutive year. 

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“So far so good. It was an early start today. Strange conditions and we warmed up for just 20 minutes. I was rushing a little bit and we couldn’t play before because of the rain, so I am glad to overcome the challenge in straight sets and move on”, he said in a post-match interview.

As the match took its due course, the British player accidentally hit the Serb while returning his serve. Djokovic responded with a ‘deathly’ glare towards his opponent, while the British were seen apologizing for the ‘accidental’ action.

The particular on-court drama led to a heated’ debate on the internet. Some questioned the behavior of the 22-time Grand Slam champion and called his act a ‘poor display’ of sportsmanship. 

On the other hand, the fans criticized Norrie for his ‘disrespectful’ behavior. They labeled his act as ‘out of line’ and called his on-court tactics an ‘unfair’ play.

Djokovic will be playing the Danish player Holger Rune, in the quarter-finals at the Italian Open. They will be meeting for the third time since their finals clash at the last year’s Paris Masters.

Also read: Marco Cecchinato SLAPS the camera in rage as tension rises at the net between him and Yannick Hanfmann in Rome

Novak Djokovic is preparing to extend his Grand Slams title record at the Roland Garros

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Image Credits: The Japan Times

With the French Open just days away, Novak Djokovic is playing his best in Rome to gain ‘correct’ momentum for the championship in Paris. Last year, he lost the quarter-finals to his biggest on-court rival, Rafael Nadal.

The 35-year-old faced back-to-back losses in Monte-Carlo and Banja Luka. His persistent elbow problems forced him to withdraw from the Madrid Open. With his underwhelming and insufficient clay appearances, the Serbian is still one of the leading contenders for Roland Garros. Boris Becker, his former coach, stated that Djokovic has the potential to win the Grand Slam, but the competition won’t be easy. 

“Do I beleive Novak can win 23? Absolutely, I can. But it’s not easy. Competition does not sleep“, he said through Guardian Nigeria.

“But Novak is healthy, he’s fit. He wants to play so he’s one of the favourites”, Becker added.

With Carlos Alcaraz leading the way as a favorite for the French Open, the ‘new generation’ players like Jannik Sinner, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, will also pose huge hurdles for the Australian Open champion.

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