Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion and one of the most accomplished tennis players in history, has come under scrutiny after being accused of displaying “nasty” behavior during practice sessions. French tennis player Jules Marie made these allegations, claiming that Djokovic’s demeanor changes drastically depending on whether cameras are present.
Jules Marie’s Shocking Claims
Marie, a 33-year-old ATP Tour player with a strong YouTube following of over 130,000 subscribers, recently recounted his negative experiences with Djokovic during a live Instagram session. Reflecting on their practice sessions at the 2021 French Open—an event that Djokovic ultimately won—Marie claimed that the Serbian star was unpleasant throughout their interactions.
“When I was a sparring partner at Roland Garros, I played five times with Djokovic, and he was nasty all five times,” Marie alleged.
Unpleasant Encounters at Roland Garros
Marie detailed some of the incidents, suggesting that Djokovic was often dismissive and uncooperative during practice.
“You play on the edge with him. If you hit a ball 1.5 meters away from him, he doesn’t play it and looks at you like, ‘if you do it again, I’ll kick you out,’” Marie revealed.
Marie also recalled another incident where Djokovic refused to engage after a serve:
“At one point, I served a ball, and he didn’t play it. He says to me, ‘it’s my coach who is supposed to serve.’ So his coach serves, I hit the ball back, and he sends the ball 50 meters high. I don’t know why... not nice at all.”
Contrasting Behavior at the Australian Open
Marie observed a stark difference in Djokovic’s demeanor at the 2022 Australian Open. He suggested that the presence of cameras and increased media attention led to a noticeable change in the Serbian’s behavior.
“On the other hand, at the Australian Open, I was no longer a sparring partner; I was a player. So it was different,” Marie noted. “And he knew about my YouTube channel. Plus, we were filmed, there were cameras, so he couldn’t be nasty.”
Djokovic’s Dual Persona?
Marie’s comments paint a picture of Djokovic presenting two contrasting sides—an intense and difficult sparring partner behind closed doors and a composed, media-conscious player when cameras are rolling.
Djokovic Yet to Respond
As of now, Novak Djokovic has not responded to Marie’s allegations. The accusations have sparked discussions about the behavior of top athletes during practice and the differences in their conduct under public scrutiny.