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Novak Djokovic is in the last four at the sand tournament in Rome. In his game against Dominik Koepfer he has to make a sentence. Out of frustration, he smashes a bat. The fact that the referee calls him “Federer” doesn’t make matters any better.
At the ATP tournament in Rome, Koepfer played himself in the foreground. On his way to the quarter-finals, the German defeated, among others, the number five seeded French Gael Monfils.
Against the world number one it was the end of the line for the number 97. But the 26-year-old showed another strong performance against the Serbs on Saturday and challenged him 2:10 hours. In the end it was 3: 6, 6: 4 and 3: 6 from the German point of view.
Djokovic’s frustration at losing a set was deep. So, furious, he smashed his bat on the pitch. “That is certainly not the best message, especially for young tennis players who look to me,” he later admitted. “I don’t want that, but sometimes it happens. Of course I’m not perfect, but I do my best. “
After all, as in New York, a bystander didn’t have to believe in it. At the US Open he hit a ball away and (unintentionally) hit a linesman in the neck. The tournament management then disqualified him, the targeted 17th Grand Slam triumph was over.
But the 33-year-old does not have a love affair with the referees in Italy either. In the decision sentence, the referee says Federer of all people instead of Djokovic after winning the game. His joy at the linguistic dropout was limited.
The Serb will now face the Norwegian Casper Ruud in the semi-finals. The world number 34. defeated local hero Matteo Berrettini 4: 6, 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 5). In the final of the Masters, Djokovic could see rival Rafael Nadal again. The second in the world rankings has to face the Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the quarter-finals.
