The Centre Court crowd watched in stunned silence as Novak Djokovic’s frustration boiled over during his semifinal defeat to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon.
What started as another chapter in tennis history quickly became a moment that left fans questioning the Serbian legend’s composure under pressure.
What Triggered Novak Djokovic’s Outburst Against His Own Team?
Djokovic entered the semifinals carrying the weight of history on his shoulders. The 38-year-old was chasing a historic 25th Major title and an eighth crown at the All England Club.
His path to the semifinals had been smooth, with dominant victories over Alexandre Müller, Dan Evans, Miomir Kecmanović, Alex de Minaur, and Flavio Cobolli.
However, Sinner had other plans. The Italian star was relentless on Centre Court, dismantling Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to reach his maiden Wimbledon final. The match reached its breaking point in the third set when Sinner broke Djokovic’s serve after an intense exchange.
That’s when the 24-time major winner lost his composure. A video clip of the moment surfaced on X, showing Djokovic visibly agitated and shouting toward his box, which included members of his family and coaching staff. With frustration boiling over, he yelled, “Just watch and be quiet, watch and be quiet, don’t say a single word, just watch.”
Novak Djokovic to his box after getting broken back by Jannik Sinner in the 3rd set at Wimbledon:
“Just watch and be quiet, watch and be quiet don’t say a single word, just watch”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) July 11, 2025
Cuando le quebraron en el tercer set, Djokovic no ocultó su enojo con su equipo. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/411w8vvrQ8
— ESPN Tenis (@ESPNtenis) July 11, 2025
The incident quickly drew strong reactions online, with fans dissecting the implications of his words and tone. Many expressed disappointment over the public display, particularly given the setting and the presence of his family.
“Extremely painful not for the family but the fans as well,” one user wrote.
Extremely painful not for the family but the fans as well. https://t.co/ffaXJU8zm0
— Naeem (@SportLover2014) July 11, 2025
The criticism became more pointed as one of the fans added, “So disappointing to behave like that with your children watching. His wife had her head down for most of the match. It was sad to see it all. The end of a career and all his frustration and anger on full display.”
So disappointing to behave like that with your children watching. His wife had her head down for most of the match. It was sad to see it all. The end of a career and all his frustration and anger on full display.
— Carla Rosenthal (@carlarosenthal) July 12, 2025
Others were more direct in their assessment. One comment asserted, “Not a great look by the GOAT. He should not teach his kids to act like that under stress. He wasn’t joking; he was saying it with heat.”
Not a great look by the . He should not teach his kids to act like that under stress. He wasn’t joking; he was saying it with heat.
— Priscilla Pilon (@PriscillaPilon) July 11, 2025
The broader pattern of behavior didn’t go unnoticed either. Another pointed out, “I don’t like it when the players vent their frustrations on their own people. It’s not nice!”
Meanwhile, some fans connected this outburst to Djokovic’s history of similar moments. A different user referenced his track record, saying, “This is partly the reason nearly his entire team is no longer part of his team,” alluding to his much-publicized split with coach Goran Ivanisevic after a similarly heated moment during his 2024 Australian Open loss, also to Sinner.
The performance itself also drew harsh criticism. “He just got obliterated by Jannik Sinner, and that’s putting it mildly. Never seen Novak so helpless on a tennis court,” a fan commented.
MORE: Novak Djokovic Reveals Jannik Sinner ‘Apologized’ to Him After Wimbledon Semifinal
