Tennis ace Novak Djokovic has recently faced accusations of showcasing “nasty” behavior during practice sessions, courtesy of fellow ATP Tour player, Jules Marie. Despite Djokovic’s reputation as one of the most revered figures in tennis history, Marie alleged disparities in the Serb’s demeanor on and off camera.
Marie, the French tennis player who commands a significant YouTube following of over 130,000, shared his less-than-pleasant encounters with Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion renowned for his fierce on-court persona. The memories of playing with Djokovic, the 38-year-old Serbian maestro, are anything but fond for Marie.
The 33-year-old French player recalled his experience of sparring Djokovic at the 2021 French Open, an event that Djokovic eventually claimed the title of. He confided that Djokovic consistently displayed an unpleasant attitude during their interactions. “When I was a sparring partner at Roland Garros, I played five times with Djokovic, and he was nasty all five times,” Marie revealed.
Marie further described his tense encounters with Djokovic, saying that playing with him was like walking on thin ice. A mere ball hit 1.5m away from Djokovic would provoke a stern look from the Serb, as though he were warning Marie against repeating the act. Marie also recalled a specific incident when Djokovic refused to play a ball served by him, claiming it was his coach’s job to serve. Following his coach’s serve, Djokovic allegedly hit the ball back so high that it reached a height of 50 meters, leaving Marie baffled and deeming the act as not at all pleasant.
However, Marie noticed a significant change in Djokovic’s behavior during the Australian Open the following year. Marie suggested that the presence of cameras during this event kept Djokovic’s “nasty” demeanor in check. “On the other hand, at the Australian Open, I was no longer a sparring partner; I was a player. So it was different,” Marie noted.
Djokovic’s intense dedication to the sport has been well-documented, and former rival Andy Murray, who has now turned coach, echoed this sentiment. Murray cited Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of improvement and serious approach to the game as key factors contributing to his status as one of the sport’s greatest. “The best players take it seriously and they want to improve, and it’s not always easy. It’s demanding, but it’s extremely rewarding when you make a breakthrough in a practice and something starts to feel a little bit better,” Murray opined.
The recent allegations come at a challenging time for Djokovic, who has been grappling with a dip in form. He faced consecutive defeats, losing in straight sets to Matteo Berrettini in the Round of 32 at the Qatar Open and suffering an early exit in the Round of 64 at the Indian Wells Masters, courtesy of Botic van de Zandschulp.