Djokovic's secret weapon: Ex-convict wellness coach in Wimbledon camp

Daily Mail​

11-07-2025

He is the most successful, and arguably the greatest tennis player of the Open Era. Now Novak Djokovic , 38, is two matches away from clinching a record 25th Grand Slam title – and he appears to have enlisted the help of an unlikely ally. Those watching his flawless run at SW19 ahead of his semi-final clash with top seed Jannik Sinner today may have noticed the curious poses the star has been striking on court.
And it could all be down to controversial ex-convict turned anti-vax wellness guru Garry Lineham who describes himself as a 'biohacking pioneer'. An insider at Wimbledon said there has been growing locker-room speculation about Lineham and his role after he was spotted working closely with Djokovic's team last week. It is understood that the Serb had flown him over from his base in California for the start of the Championships to help him win a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title.
The American was seen sitting with the player's entourage on Centre Court during Djokovic's victory over fellow Serb Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday. Lineham believes specific twists and stretches can be performed to unlock inner 'trauma' as well as heavy metals trapped inside the body. He is the founder of Human Garage, a wellness brand which boasts over a million followers online including Djokovic, which claims to work with professional athletes and celebrities and objects to bras which he says restrict breathing as well as nail varnish and hair dye, claiming they drain women of their energy.
The 56-year-old previously caused controversy by vocally opposing the use of both vaccinations and suncream, claiming the latter causes cancer. Djokovic, too, has courted controversy over vaccines - in 2022 during the pandemic he refused to take a Covid jab and was not allowed to compete in the Australian Open. His new regime of bizarre twists and stretches on court – some which appear to have been inspired by Lineham - have caught the eye of commentators.
During his quarter final win over Australian Alex de Minaur, John McEnroe remarked on Djokovic's curious head-down posture between points. 'That looks rather uncomfortable. Weird stretch. I don't do that very often,' he said. While following the game, fellow commentator Tracey Austin added that it looked as though 'he was doing yoga on the side'.
During Saturday's match, Djokovic appeared to perform one of Lineham's trademark moves, a standing stretch known as 'totally twisted' – during a change at the close of the second set. Lineham's videos show people how to 'unlock trauma' in their hips, to release anger and frustration from their jaws, and shoulder movements for easing anxiety.
But his path to wellness has been anything but conventional - a former encryption expert whose firm once worked with Blackberry, Lineham has a colourful past. He was jailed in California in 2010 after being accused of distributing encrypted BlackBerry phones to a drug trafficking ring - a charge he has always denied. Lineham has since claimed that it was during his two years behind bars, where he suffered chronic back pain brought on by years of bodybuilding, that led him to develop the body manipulation techniques with the help of his cellmate – an elderly neurologist turned chiropractor.
The health guru did not attend Djokovic's most recent match, and is understood to have travelled instead to demonstrate his twists and stretches at a conference in Stockholm, Sweden.