(VIDEO) Novak Djokovic tricks ball girl into thinking she injured him in Wimbledon prank moment
ATPThursday, 02 July 2026 at 04:30
Novak Djokovic produced one of the most widely shared moments of Wimbledon when a brief on-court interaction with a ball girl during his match against Stefanos Tsitsipas turned into a viral prank clip on Centre Court. The incident took place during a pause in play while Djokovic was already in control of the match, having moved into a commanding position in straight sets.
The exchange occurred in a routine setting, with Djokovic preparing to adjust tape on his shoulder and asking for assistance from a nearby ball girl. What initially appeared to be a standard procedural moment quickly shifted in tone when the Serbian turned the situation into a playful prank involving a pair of scissors.
The timing of the incident, during a high-profile Centre Court match at Wimbledon, contributed to its visibility online, with clips circulating rapidly across social media. The match itself against Tsitsipas remained secondary in attention for a brief period as the interaction drew immediate reactions.
Despite the viral nature of the moment, the situation did not disrupt the flow of the match, which continued under Djokovic’s control as he maintained a strong performance against the Greek player.
Djokovic explains Centre Court prank after Tsitsipas win
Djokovic addressed the incident in his post-match comments, acknowledging the interaction and offering context for what happened during the break in play.
“Stefanos went to change so I had some spare time. I’m sorry if I scared her,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said during the on-court interview. “I guess these kind of things surface when you’re 2 sets to 0 up rather than 2 sets to 0 down.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t know if she’s around. Sorry if I scared her,” the 7-time Wimbledon champion added, smiling. “It probably wasn’t that great of a joke I guess. It made me a bit more relaxed.”
After the particular incident, Tsitsipas returned to the court, but he could do little to change the momentum. The third set was the most dominant for Nole, who ultimately closed out the victory 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round of Wimbledon.
There's a reason they call him the Djoker 😂#Wimbledon | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/zLRy1yttve
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2026
Djokovic’s Wimbledon form continues
The Serbian continues without dropping a set in the tournament so far, showing that on the grass courts of SW19 he can position himself as a firm contender. The victory over Tsitsipas also extended his head-to-head advantage over the Greek to 13-2, including two Grand Slam final meetings, both won by Djokovic.
“You feel very happy, satisfied and joyful on the court when you are playing this way,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview. “Once you get the momentum going... That game when I went 5-2 up was one of the best return games I’ve played in a while. I just went for my shots. I was a bit more relaxed, a little less tension in my head.”
The world No. 8 is trying to bounce back after a third-round defeat at the French Open a month earlier, when the draw seemed to open up following early exits from Sinner and the absence of Alcaraz. However, the campaign ended in disappointment after a five-set loss to young Brazilian João Fonseca.
He will face a difficult challenge in the third round, where he meets Arthur Rinderknech, the 25th seed of the tournament, who has shown consistent form over the last year. The Frenchman progressed through the early rounds by defeating Martin Damm and Oliver Tarvet.
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.
claps 0visitors 0
Just In
Popular News
Latest Comments
- "Question" Number 1 should be: Why do you think it's okay to steal Wildcard spots from deserving young and promising players just so you can basque in the spotlight and see your name in the media??
mandoist01-07-2026 - NO MORE WILDCARDS TO POSERS!!! WTA is Pathetic.mandoist01-07-2026
- Small mind, Small talk.mandoist29-06-2026
- In case you 'Americans' haven't heard: ESPN just screwed you out of Wimbledon coverage in the USA!! ESPN will offer ONE FREE MATCH PER DAY. If you want to see anything else "marketing" department mistake-makers think you will fork over $39.00 for a subscription to watch Wimbledon.mandoist28-06-2026
- This child is just too damn fragile.. stupse!Rapunzel28-06-2026
- Muchova owned Osaka before any hint of "injury". We all saw what we saw.mandoist27-06-2026
- Here's an idea! Media get your "journilism" credentials in order before attempting to actually be a Journalist. Then decide, 'Do I want to be a sensationalist love interest writer for people magazine'? Or, 'Do I want to be sensible and write about the actual sport and its athletes without making things worse for them for no good F-ing reason other than write filler'? This Serena bullshit, Iga's mental health intrusions, all of this crap is lowering the bar... even for this rag.mandoist27-06-2026
- Condescending Collins and her Elitist pal Williams need to go away... for good.mandoist25-06-2026
- This way she can continue her part-time unserious nonsense, withdraw from Wimbledon if it's too hot... and still keep her Sponsor$ Stop wasting everyone's time.mandoist25-06-2026
- Well said Ajila. Thank you for not being afraid to tell it like it is!! Hopefully your colleagues, their teams, and others will grow a set of real balls and FINALLY take WTA & ITIA to task for their varying degrees of treatment and mistakes. For all the good they do -- it only takes one poorly orchestrated in-house decision to ruin what little reputation they possess.mandoist24-06-2026
Loading