via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Monte Carlo Masters – Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France – April 12, 2022 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during his second round match against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
via Reuters
Tennis – ATP Masters 1000 – Monte Carlo Masters – Monte-Carlo Country Club, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France – April 12, 2022 Serbia’s Novak Djokovic during his second round match against Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic was swift in his campaign opener yesterday. The 35-year-old returned from deportation controversy and won his first match in straight sets. However, it seems like whatever he does is under extreme focus and even the slightest bit of happenings with Djokovic turn into controversies now.
In his yesterday’s win, it happened again. Djokovic rushed for a toiled break without proper communication with the umpire. Although he returned within the stipulated time and earned no penalty, it still became a talking point. Later, Serena Williams‘ former coach Patrick Mouratoglou also reacted to the same. Here’s what happened.
Fans react as Patrick Mourtoglou is baffled by media nitpicking on Novak Djokovic
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Serena Williams’ former coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, was not happy with the excessive media coverage surrounding Novak Djokovic’s toilet break. Earlier, the 21-time Grand Slam champion rushed to a toiled break as per report from Eurosport without proper communication with the umpire during his first match at the Australian Open 2023.
via Getty
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 16: Coach Patrick Mouratoglou watches Serena Williams of the United States practice during day nine of the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on February 16, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)
While there was no issue after he returned on time, the Frenchman believes there are better things the media can cover. Here’s what he said,
To make such a big stories about those toilet breaks says a lot about how much we lack real stories in our sport.
— Patrick Mouratoglou (@pmouratoglou) January 18, 2023
“To make such a big stories about those toilet breaks says a lot about how much we lack real stories in our sport.”
The Frenchmen’s opinion on Twitter received mixed reactions from the fans. Here’s how they reacted.
We don’t lack stories, we lack storytellers. More to the point, the journalists with the most followers are generally the worst storytellers. https://t.co/Z6ygBpCIdw
— Jared Pine (@JaredPineTennis) January 18, 2023
With Djokovic they place him under the microscope. If not toilet break it's the non-existent boo or breaking rackets or the father or his expression talking to his team, anything he does is wrong. All written in sly innuendos. It's about the agenda. https://t.co/iWOi5BcFuT
— Susy 💕 Kichu (@Susyindrie) January 18, 2023
The stories are there. The sport just needs more real and fewer tabloid journalists on the hunt for clickbait. https://t.co/5TSoET5VCH
— Belthazar (@Belthazar13) January 18, 2023
Purists vs casual fans. Have to accommodate everyone. Toilet breaks has been a big story in tennis for a long time because the rules are not clear. Tennis rules is a big story and has been for a long time.
— Emily Benammar (@EmilyBenammar) January 18, 2023
There are great stories but few good storytellers. It’s about banality and toxicity and clicks not stories.
— ZoKa (@KaranxhaZorka) January 18, 2023
For the first time Patrick I agree with you. That was no big deal. Regardless of who he is, he’s still human and nature can call on him at any time.
— GiGi (@gigifrems) January 18, 2023
Its not about lack of real stories – its about an agenda, an agenda that is losing steam making them push harder and clutch at straws
— Samir Kumar (@SamirKu73625117) January 18, 2023
There's plenty to write about. Corporate "journalists" are just lazy and have an agenda.
— Lil' Bardi (fan account) (@LilBardi__) January 18, 2023
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While most of the fans agreed with Mouratoglou, a few believed that the incident rightly got the media’s attention. As the laws regarding breaks are not very clear and Djokovic is a top player. Especially after his visa controversy that forced him to sit out the 2022 Australian Open, everything the Serb does is being sensationalized. On the other hand, a few were not happy with clickbait journalism.
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A few Djokovic fans also called it agenda-based coverage. Everything Djokovic does is always looked at differently and little things turn into controversies because of the media hype.
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