Novak Djokovic gatecrashes Aryna Sabalenka's pre-Wimbledon press conference and awkwardly criticises her
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
NOVAK DJOKOVIC gatecrashed Aryna Sabalenka's pre-Wimbledon press conference before offering some constructive criticism.
Women's world No.1 Sabalenka was coming towards the end of her chat when Djokovic surprisingly entered before it was his turn to face reporters in SW19.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
5
Novak Djokovic hilariously gatecrashed Aryna Sabalenka's pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday
5
Sabalenka, who was in good spirits, asked Djokovic for his opinion on her abilities
Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, was told Sabalenka was in the middle of her final response but cheekily informed the press officer that he was going to interrupt his friend's conference.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner could be heard whispering: "Come on, let's go, please" with a grin as he shocked Sabalenka with his entrance on Saturday.
Sabalenka smiled and said goodbye to the media, but then assumed the role of moderator and asked Djokovic about their recent hit at the All-England club.
The pair were filmed during a practice session earlier in the week as Sabalenka looks to win her first Wimbledon and Djokovic goes for an a record-equalling eighth title, alongside Roger Federer.
READ MORE TENNIS NEWS
SET FOR LOVE Boulter hopes £2m love nest she shares with Oz ace will boost Wimbledon hopes
Sabalenka, 27, said: "You see guys, come in here then" before asking Djokovic to sit down in her seat, which he refused.
The US Open champion then asked Djokovic: "First of all, let me ask a question. What do you think about hitting with me? How do you see my level? Am I good?'
Djokovic jokingly responded: "I think you have the potential. You're, like, a really talented player. You have nice strokes, good technique.
"Can I be honest? You're lacking intensity on the court. You don't have enough intensity.
CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
"It's too flat. You've got to lighten up a little bit, put some power in it."
Sabalenka, holding in laughter, then said: "Really! That's what you are going to say right now?
"Before this guy was my favourite player, but not anymore obviously!"
British world No719 qualifies for Wimbledon but is BANNED from claiming £66,000 prize money
There could be some truth in Djokovic's words of wisdom, as Sabalenka lost the French Open final to Coco Gauff last month.
The Belarusian said it "hurt to show such terrible tennis" in what she described as "the worst final I ever played" after losing in three sets to Gauff.
In her runners-up speech, the three-time Slam winner added: "'I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all of those mistakes."
Meanwhile, Djokovic is seeking a record-extending 25 Grand Slam titles, but at 38 years old knows his time is running out amid the rise of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
5
Sabalenka is trying to right her French Open wrongs over the next few weeks
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
5
Djokovic warmed up with Sabalenka and Carlo Alcaraz
Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The legendary Serbian said: "'It's great to be back. I love Wimbledon. I've always loved it. I think in the last six editions, I had six finals.
"I've been playing very well here, maybe it's been the most consistent Grand Slam for me in the last 10 years.
"When I come here, I feel extra inspired to deliver the best tennis. Whether it could be my 'last dance', I'm not sure. My wish is to play for several more years.
"I would love to be healthy physically and also mentally motivated to keep on playing at the highest level. That's the goal, but you never know at this stage."
5
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
33 minutes ago
- BBC News
Formula 4 featuring at Silverstone British Grand Prix weekend
Motorsport history will be made at this year's British Grand Prix when four different classifications of formula racing compete at the same event for the first Circuit will host Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3 and Formula 4, as part of F1's 75th anniversary Northamptonshire track is expected to host about 480,000 people from 3 to 6 Stott, from Silverstone-based Hitech which runs teams in F2, F3 and F4, said the addition of F4 to the event schedule was a "milestone moment" for its young drivers. "This event will provide an incredible stage for them to showcase their talent in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, and the Formula 1 teams they hope to go on to race for," he F4 British Championship, which held its inaugural season in 2015, has been a training ground for a number of drivers who have gone on to race in F1, including current McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.F4's Silverstone appearance will be a non-points scoring round for its 2025 Championship and will consist of two 25-minute plus one-lap races, with track action taking place across Friday, Saturday and added: "While there are no points at stake for this event, I am sure they [our drivers] will be looking to shine on the F1 stage and make the most of this very special opportunity." Eve Lake-Grange, British F4 Championship manager, said: "To have the opportunity to compete on the support bill of Formula 1 at the British Grand Prix is something that we've been working towards for a long time, so we are delighted to have been able to now make it happen."We pride ourselves on being the first step on the pathway to Formula 1, and for our drivers to be able to see the potential career roadmap that is ahead of them – on the same weekend that they are competing – will be both special and inspiring." What is Formula 4? Formula 4 serves as an entry-level series for drivers transitioning from British F4 Championship is open to drivers aged 15 and over and offers a training ground for aspiring F1 drivers to adapt to the higher speeds, aerodynamics and handling of open-wheel in the category are designed with a far less technical specification when compared with higher formula categories, with the intention of making them more accessible and cost-effective for both drivers and teams.F4 cars can reach a top speed of about 150mph (240km/h), while F1 cars race at up to 230mph (370km/h). Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The National
an hour ago
- The National
For the sake of tennis, one player in particular must rise to the top
You can have all the quality in the world spread across the field but if there's no rivalries, there's no hook. Which, in turn, means no interest or, at least, much diminished interest from the public. One particularly intense, beautiful and hugely competitive rivalry is exactly why men's tennis thrived to the extent it did for a decade-and-a-half from the mid-2000s. That rivalry was the Roger Federer - Rafa Nadal match-up. Across all of sport, there have been few rivalries which have produced quite as much interest, tension, joy, heartbreak and world-class sport as the Federer-Nadal version. It's why there was such a visceral feeling of devastation when first Federer, then Nadal retired. How would men's tennis ever recover, it was asked? Inevitably, though things move on and already, there's a new rivalry that has seamlessly replaced Federer and Nadal as the most compelling head-to-head in tennis. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have filled the vacuum created by the departure of Federer and Nadal and they are, indisputably, the new stars of men's tennis. Of the last eight grand slam tournaments, the pair have won seven between them, with only Novak Djokovic breaking up the monopoly. Sinner and Alcaraz are the biggest names in the sport and, by some margin, the two best players. Their French Open final earlier this month was one of the greatest matches the sport has ever seen. Some have suggested it's the very best ever, although I wouldn't go that far. Alcaraz prevailed in Paris a few weeks ago, and it's the Spaniard who leads the head-to-head 5-2, but it's Sinner who is number one in the world. Whatever the statistics, though, what is clear is that, providing serious injury does not derail the career of either man, it's Alcaraz and Sinner who will dominate men's tennis over the coming years, perhaps even for the next decade. (Image: Andy Cheung/ Getty Images) A rivalry of this quality is, objectively, a good thing for the sport. But for the good of tennis, one man in particular from this duo must prevail. That man is Carlos Alcaraz. There's a number of reasons why it's so important that Alcaraz and not Sinner becomes the next real tennis great. The first reason is down to the style of their tennis. Alcaraz is, to my eye anyway, a far more flashy, skilful and compelling player to watch. The Spaniard has considerably more flair and variety in comparison to Sinner. The Italian is, it cannot be denied, a phenomenon on the tennis court. So consistently outstanding are his ground strokes, he's almost robotic-like. The sparsity of his unforced errors is remarkable. And the quality of his hitting is perhaps the best the sport has ever seen. But, for me, watching that style of tennis for a prolonged length of time, no matter how high quality it is, just isn't all that interesting. Give me variety, flair, imagination and creativity any day of the week, even if it results in quite a few more unforced errors. Alcaraz is the defending champion at Wimbledon (Image: Getty Images) The second reason is personality. Alcaraz is a far more compelling character than Sinner. The Italian is, on the face of it, a nice guy. It's almost impossible to find anyone who has a bad word to say about him, and he certainly comes across in the press as an amicable, friendly and genuinely decent guy. He also, though, is quite boring. Alcaraz in contrast, has a personality that shines through. He seems like a young guy who can't quite believe his luck that he's living this life. There's something very endearing about his youthful exuberance, with the way he celebrated his French Open victory with the Roland Garros ball kids the perfect example of just what's so likeable about the Spaniard. The final reason is perhaps the most pertinent for me. Earlier this year, Sinner served a doping ban. The details of his case are somewhat convoluted but, to simplify it, Sinner claimed that his trainer had a banned substance on his hands and when treating the Italian, the substance transferred to Sinner and caused his positive test. The Italian was banned from tennis for three months but there was considerable outcry over the alleged preferential treatment he was given and the leniency in allowing him back on tour after such a short suspension. His return was, conveniently, just in time for the French Open meaning the world number one didn't miss a major tournament during his time on the sidelines, nor did he lose his number one ranking. While Sinner wasn't unjustly 'let off' with anything, he was, it seems, treated very favourably as a result of his lofty standing within the sport. The outcry over the unfairness of his treatment was entirely justified because when you compare how fast his infringement was dealt with, as well as his lenient punishment, it's hard to argue that his doping case was handled in a comparable way to the cases of his lower-ranked peers following doping allegations. I don't believe Sinner is a prolific doper, not even close. I actually think his explanation for his positive test is entirely plausible. But I do think it's not a good look for any sport to have a doping conviction on the record of the top player. It's hard to see any way in which this new era of men's tennis isn't the Sinner and Alcaraz era. Tennis will benefit from this pair dominating; they're both outstanding tennis players and will, in all likelihood, move the game on even from the remarkable standard that Federer and Nadal set during their time of dominance. With Wimbledon beginning tomorrow, only a fool would bet against the prediction that we're heading for yet another Sinner-Alcaraz final. Objectively, this would be positive for the sport, particularly if the Wimbledon final is another classic in the way the French Open final was but in this head-to-head, I'll always be willing the Spaniard on. So while having this duo at the top of the game is a good thing for tennis, what will be really good for tennis, for so many reasons, will be if Alcaraz prevails, and emerges as the top dog.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Alcaraz & Sabalenka among Wimbledon title hopefuls
Wimbledon 2025Dates: 30 June-13 July Venue: All England ClubCoverage: Live across BBC TV, radio and online with extensive coverage on BBC iPlayer, Red Button, Connected TVs and mobile app. Qualifying is complete. The pristine grass courts lie in wait. The strawberries have been picked. The queue is wait is over - Wimbledon returns on world's best tennis players have descended on SW19 for the 2025 Championships, ready to battle for one of the sport's biggest what to look out for. Alcaraz chases three-in-a-row feat Carlos Alcaraz will bid for a third consecutive Wimbledon title after beating Novak Djokovic in the past two finals on Centre Alcaraz, who overturned a two-set deficit to beat world number one Jannik Sinner in one of the all-time great French Open finals in June, is only 22 years old but already has five meanwhile, continues to pursue an outright-record 25th major singles title, having tied Margaret Court with his 2023 US Open 38-year-old Serb has been thwarted recently by the new stars of the men's game, with Alcaraz and Sinner sharing the past six majors between them. Italy's Sinner will hope to bounce back from his Paris heartbreak, with Wimbledon the only Grand Slam where he has yet to contest the final.A semi-final loss to Djokovic in 2023 represents his best SW19 run after his quarter-final exit last preparations this time were cut short by a second-round Halle Open loss to the in-form Alexander Bublik, who could be a threat after his title triumph number four Jack Draper leads Britain's hopes in the men's draw, with Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie also aiming for deep runs on home soil. Another wide-open women's draw? Not since 2016, when Serena Williams was champion for the seventh time and second year running, has a player managed to win back-to-back women's singles titles at year, Barbora Krejcikova triumphed to follow in the footsteps of Czech compatriot Marketa Vondrousova, who 12 months earlier became the first unseeded player to lift the Venus Rosewater number one Aryna Sabalenka, who has reached the final in five of the past six slams she has contested, has yet to reach the Wimbledon showpiece Belarusian, 27, is a three-time Grand Slam singles champion but has been runner-up in the past two major finals, at the Australian Open and French Open. Roland Garros champion Coco Gauff arrives as one of the main contenders, but she has never progressed beyond the fourth round in year's runner-up Jasmine Paolini, the Italian world number four, will look to go one step better this former world number one Iga Swiatek - who beat Paolini handily in Bad Homburg on Friday - and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina will also hope to number one Emma Raducanu leads home hopes in the women's draw, where she is joined by Katie Boulter and Sonay Kartal, who have both spent time in the world's top 50 of Raducanu has been handed a difficult draw. Former champion Marketa Vondrousova is a possible second-round opponent, while Sabalenka is likely to be waiting should she reach round three. Who else is aiming for Wimbledon glory? Britain's Henry Patten will attempt to retain the Wimbledon men's doubles title he won with Finland's Harri Heliovaara last enter as the second-ranked pairing in the world, behind only El Salvador's Marcelo Arevalo and Croatia's Mate defending champions in the women's doubles are Czech Katerina Siniakova and American Taylor Townsend, the top-ranked pair in the will have high hopes of success in the men's wheelchair competitions. Alfie Hewett won the men's singles at his home slam for the first time last year to complete a career Grand Slam - and then retained the doubles title alongside compatriot Gordon year's runner-up Martin de la Puente and Japan's world number one Tokito Oda are Hewett's main rivals as he attempts to defend the the wheelchair women's singles, Dutch marvel Diede de Groot will look to add to her record 23 singles titles as she pursues a seventh Wimbledon title - and a fifth in a Groot, whose Wimbledon win last year gave her a 15th successive singles major, subsequently spent eight months out after undergoing hip surgery following her Paralympic silver medal. Japan's Yui Kamiji has won the past two Grand Slams, with De Groot in the early stages of her return to competition.
