Novak Djokovic furiously accuses French Open opponent of breaking unwritten rule | Tennis | Sport

Novak Djokovic wasn’t best pleased when Valentin Royer failed to apologise for winning a point after the ball clipped the net tape. The No. 3 seed led Royer by two-sets-to-love and twice went up a break in the third, but was broken back twice and taken to a tiebreak.

Djokovic also had a match point at 6-5 in the breaker that he couldn’t convert, and at 7-7, Royer hit a return that clipped the tape but still managed to land inside the baseline and stay in play. It threw the Serbian superstar off, and he managed to get the ball back, but wasn’t on top of the rally.

The Frenchman won the exchange, giving himself a set point, and didn’t put his arm up to apologise for the awkward bounce after his ball luckily stayed in after touching the tape. Players often apologise for net cords, but Royer initially only pumped his fist.

Djokovic wasn’t happy with his opponent’s lack of etiquette and pointed over, giving a thumbs up, and then clapping his racket. Royer realised his mistake and soon turned back, waving over in apology, but commentator and former world No. 1 Jim Courier knew that he had gotten to Djokovic.

“Djokovic wanted an apology for the return that Royer hit off of the tape that stayed in the net. So that’s what the little discussion back and forth at the end of this rally was about,” Courier told TNT Sports USA viewers.

“Royer pumps his fist but doesn’t offer an apology in advance. Novak says, ‘Hey buddy, you owe me one’. Which Royer then turned around and gave him one. He has poked the bear.”

That exchange gave Royer a set point on his serve, and he capitalised on it. Djokovic sent a return long, and the world No. 74 took the set, forcing a fourth in front of the thrilled French fans on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

But Djokovic refused to let up. He held from 0-30 in his opening service game to start the fourth, refusing to give Royer a look at a break point. Then, the 24-time Major champion hit a sensational around-the-net-post winner in the third game.

Djokovic put his hands on his hips and could only smile as he brought the fans to their feet with the incredible shot. And he broke in a couple of games later, taking the lead and edging closer to victory once again.

And the three-time winner here went on to claim a 6-3 6-2 6-7(7) 6-3 victory to move into the third round.