Djokovic fined £5,600 for outburst at Wimbledon
Wimbledon officials have penalised Novak Djokovic £5,600 following an outburst during his last-16 encounter with Roman Safiullin on Sunday, reports BritPanorama.
The All England Club confirmed the sanction in its latest disciplinary document on Tuesday evening, citing an audible obscenity as the trigger for the fine. Djokovic advanced to the quarter-finals despite a challenging match, defeating Safiullin 7-6(6), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to achieve his 106th singles victory at the tournament, surpassing Roger Federer’s record.
During the match, Djokovic received an on-court code violation from German umpire Timo Janzen for using expletives as he fell behind 2-0 in the third set. The precise nature of the incident triggering the fine remains unclear, but spectators report hearing him shout profanity in both English and Serbian.
Later in the match, Djokovic faced further jeers from Centre Court fans after exhibiting frustration by striking a ball away. In reflecting on his conduct, he acknowledged that his behaviour did not align with his personal standards. “Sometimes it helps to kind of just filter things that are building inside,” he stated. “Not something I’m proud of when I get warning or something like that, I have a meltdown.”
Alongside Djokovic, Brazilian player Joao Fonseca received an identical £5,600 fine for damaging his racket in his match against Safiullin. Other players also faced financial penalties, including Polish player Hubert Hurkacz and British doubles specialist Julian Cash, both sanctioned for audible profanity. Notably, Andre Goransson was fined £3,700 for unsportsmanlike behaviour in mixed doubles, while Tamara Korpatsch received a penalty of £2,200 for similar conduct.
Overall, seventy players have faced disciplinary action during the current Championships, with fines imposed for various infractions ranging from audible obscenities to racket damage. Six competitors were penalised in the qualifying rounds, underlining a broader issue of player conduct at high-profile tournaments.
As the tournament unfolds, it serves as a stark reminder of how even the most celebrated athletes can fall prey to the pressures of competition, where moments of relaxation slip into passions ignited, creating a complex tapestry of sportsmanship and human emotion on display.
