Novak Djokovic has broken his silence on the latest tennis controversy, using social media on Saturday, August 17, to address the contentious point that awarded Jack Draper a victory on match point. The 37-year-old Serbian tennis star, who has long been a vocal advocate for fairness in the sport, expressed his frustration, calling the situation embarrassing for tennis and urging immediate changes.
The controversy arose when a questionable call on Draper’s match point went unchallenged due to the lack of available video review technology. Djokovic pointed out that, despite the presence of advanced technology like ‘Hawkeye’ for line calls, there is still no system in place to review such crucial decisions. The incident has reignited the debate about the role of technology in tennis, particularly in ensuring fair outcomes in high-stakes matches.
“It’s embarrassing that we don’t have video replay for situations like this on the court. What’s even more ridiculous is that there isn’t a rule allowing chair umpires to change their original decision based on video review, which we can see off the court!” Djokovic stated in his post. He highlighted the absurdity of players being left in the dark while millions of viewers watching on television can see what happened. “We live in the 21st century, in a technologically advanced era! Please, responsible circuits, ensure this nonsense never happens again.”
Djokovic’s comments come at a time when the tennis world is increasingly scrutinizing the sport’s reliance on human judgment in crucial moments. As the reigning Olympic champion from Paris 2024, with a record 24 Grand Slam titles and the most weeks as the world’s number one player, Djokovic’s words carry significant weight in the tennis community. His call for change is likely to spark further discussions among players, officials, and fans alike about the future of tennis officiating.
