Novak Djokovic is once again in the spotlight at Wimbledon, not only for his high-level tennis but also due to a new controversial episode. The Serbian, currently ranked number 7 in the world and holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, was fined $7,500 for an “audible obscenity” during his fourth-round match against Russian Roman Safiullin, part of a list of sanctions that included 16 other players.
The All England Club released the official list of fined players on Tuesday night. Djokovic, a seven-time champion at SW19, was penalized for behavior that did not go unnoticed: during the third set, as the match slipped out of his control, the Serbian exploded in frustration after being broken and falling behind 2-0, shouting “bull****” and hurling a series of insults in his native language. The umpire did not hesitate to issue him a formal warning, in one of the most tense moments of the tournament so far.
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The tension did not end there. Still in the same set, Djokovic lost his temper again when Safiullin hit a powerful forehand directly at him. Just seconds later, Nole grabbed a spare ball and angrily threw it away, adding to the controversy surrounding his behavior. However, the Serbian was not the only one: the list of players fined spans all stages and categories of the tournament, from qualifying matches to doubles and mixed doubles encounters.
Gilles Arnaud Bailly and Henrique Rocha, for example, were both fined $2,500, the former for audible obscenity and the latter for racket abuse. Mia Pohankova, Pol Martin Tiffon, and Colton Smith, all just 17 years old, also received fines for the same reason. Noma Noha Akugue, a German doubles player, was similarly sanctioned. Hamad Medjedovic, a 22-year-old Serbian, had to pay $5,000 for audible obscenity in the main draw.
Among the more prominent names, Damir Džumhur and Thanasi Kokkinakis received fines of $7,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct, while Corentin Moutet was fined as well, but for racket abuse. Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Hubert Hurkacz, and João Fonseca also appear on the list for various infractions, including racket abuse and audible obscenity, with fines ranging from $3,500 to $7,500.
British player Julian Cash was fined $7,500 for violating the dress code, standing out for the originality of his infraction. Tamara Korpatsch, 31, rounds out the list with a $3,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct.
This is not the first time Djokovic has been involved in such controversies at Wimbledon. Three years ago, he was fined $8,000 after breaking his racket against the net post during a lost final against Carlos Alcaraz, an incident that also drew negative reactions from the crowd and an immediate warning from referee Fergus Murphy.
After the epic victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime, Djokovic secured his place in the semi-finals. The tennis world is now waiting to see if the Serbian can channel his intensity—both on and off the court—into a triumphant march towards the final. His history of emotional outbursts continues to define his journey at SW19, fueling the debate about the limits of passion and behavior on the biggest stages of world tennis.
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