Novak Djokovic beefing with the umpire 10 minutes into his 20th US Open: "You really need to do that?"

Monday, 25 August 2025 at 10:05

Novak Djokovic lifting his arm in passion

In an explosive entry to the US Open 2025, Novak Djokovic received a time violation warning during his conffrontation against Learner Tien. The Californian is 6-1 down after the first set. Barely nine minutes into the match,down and already holding a break advantage, he was penalized during his second service game. The Serb came to Flushing Meadows looking to break records, but so far it seems he's only fighting for the fastest time violation of his career.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion faced local young gun Learner Tien in his debut match at a packed Arthur Ashe Stadium. The match was quickly interrupted due to a slow serve, a penalty that didn't sit well with the four-time US Open champion.

"You really need to do that?" a visibly annoyed Djokovic repeated, as the match was just getting started. Djokovic was facing a break point against him with the score at 2-0 in his favor, and Tien was getting his first chance to get back in the match. Unfortunately for the home player, he couldn't capitalize on the interruption, and Djokovic eventually recovered to save his service game.

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The situation turned out to be just a minor setback in the former world No. 1's dominant start, as he took the first set 6-1 in just 25 minutes. Without needing to play his best tennis, the Serb remained in control, showing his imposing presence against the inexperienced 19-year-old Tien.

Despite the lopsided score, Tien has had a breakthrough season, reaching his career-high ranking of world No. 44 amidst a strong 2025. He has earned a reputation as a "giant-killer," having secured four victories over top-10 players so far this season. His notable run includes quarterfinal appearances at the Australian Open and the Canadian Open.

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@chris_eubanks96 mad respect for checking John McEnroe about how to call the time violations against Djokovic pic.twitter.com/3unjquuiZ8
— Jordan Snow (@UGAScotchman) August 24, 2025

Djokovic got a time violation in the 3rd game of the match and Djokovic was not happy at the umpire.

If history tells us anything, this is probably bad news for Tien.
— Tennis Updates (@TennisUpdates25) August 24, 2025

That's a classic Novak Djokovic response, gets a time violation and saves a break point with an ace and goes on to win the game. A great start so far, he's up 3-0 in the first. Lets fuckin go man!#USOpen2025
— Bobby (@BhavithReddy5) August 24, 2025

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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