"Novak Djokovic doesn't come to mind, but some players extend grunts a lot on big points" - Taylor Fritz weighs in on Serb's Wimbledon hindrance
Taylor Fritz weighed in on the hindrance call handed to Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships, essentially giving the Serb a clean chit.
Facing off against Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on Friday, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was hit with a point penalty after the chair umpire felt that his extended grunt after a backhand return was disingenous.
While the penalty did not affect the outcome of the match, it became the subject of huge debate on social media. Fans and pundits were of the opinion that the call was too harsh, pointing out that many players often do the same without getting penalized.
In light of the same, American No. 1 Taylor Fritz took to Twitter to give his two cents. Fritz said that such extended grunts were common in tennis and hopes more such calls would be made by umpires.
The World No. 9 also admitted that while he did not see Djokovic's instance, the Serb is not one to make delayed grunts usually.
"I can’t speak to this specific instance because i didn’t see it. Novak doesn’t come to my mind when I think of this rule, BUT some players I can think of extend/delay grunts A LOT on big points to put you off and it needs to be called more by umpires," Taylor Fritz said.
I can’t speak to this specific instance because i didn’t see it. Novak doesn’t come to my mind when I think of this rule, BUT some players I can think of extend/delay grunts A LOT on big points to put you off and it needs to be called more by umpires. twitter.com/thetennislette…
When one fan insinuated that it was Carlos Alcaraz that Fritz was talking about, the American denied it, saying that the World No. 1's grunts are always consistent. Even if they aren't, since Alcaraz's extended grunts usually happen during the course of a sure winner, the 25-year-old does not have a problem with them.
"Nah his is consistent, and if he ever extends it, it’s when he blasts a winner, so doesn’t matter," Fritz said.
@nnakalinskaya Nah his is consistent and if he ever extends it it’s when he blasts a winner so doesn’t matter 😂
"You have to accept it" - Novak Djokovic on his Wimbledon hindrance penalty
At his press conference after his semifinals win over Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic addressed the hindrance call, saying that he simply had to accept the call of the chair umpire.
While the former World No. 1 opined that he had finished his grunt before the shot and that the umpire was wrong about it, he did not want to dispute the umpire's verdict.
"First of all, I have to accept the decision from a chair umpire. That's it. It was quite a close call, I must say. I mean, it has never happened to me. I've never had a hindrance call for extended grunt," Novak Djokovic said.
"I saw the replay. I saw that my grunt finished before he hit the shot. So I thought that chair umpire's call was not correct. I mean, my opinion. Again, you have to accept it," he added.
Up next, Djokovic will take on Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final at SW19. The Spaniard took down Daniil Medvedev in straight sets in the semifinals to reach his maiden final at the tournament.