- Novak Djokovic went to five sets for a second match in a row at the French Open
Novak Djokovic’s on court rant watched by his wife Jelena has been ‘decoded’ by internet sleuths who claim he declared ‘I could kill right now’ before being urged on by his wife Jelena.
The Serbian great exploded in anger during his five-set thriller with Francisco Cerundulo in the fourth round of the French Open earlier today.
A Serbian speaker told MailOnline Novak was seen saying ‘I could kill right now’ before his wife Jelena supportively urged him ‘come on’.
In Serbia, a declaration of being so angry they could kill is meant very much in a jokey way and not to be taken literally.
Despite his epic win, Djokovic has since withdrawn from Wednesday’s quarter-final against Casper Ruud due to a knee injury.
Djokovic was once again taken to five sets as his up-and-down French Open campaign continues, having gone the distance with Lorenzo Musetti in a clash that ended after 3am on Sunday morning.
Djokovic entered the competition as the reigning champion but hadn’t consistently been able to show the form that he has showcased throughout his staggering career at this year’s French Open.
On Monday with his title defence again on the line, Djokovic found himself a break up at 2-0 in the decisive fifth set, but after conceding a point for 30-30 he was visibly incensed.
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He then walked back to pick up more balls to begin his next service, before turning to his family in the box on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
The cameras caught the tense exchange between Djokovic and his wife Jelena, as he gestured angrily with his hands and shouted up at his team.
His wife Jelena can then be seen stood up in the box in the stands, responding in kind to her husband.
After a few seconds the exchange was over and Djokovic returned to what he does best – pulling victories out of the jaws of defeat.
He eventually sealed his spot in the quarter-finals with a 6-3 win in the fifth to make it 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 before withdrawing from the tournament on Tuesday.
Jelena Djokovic, 37, is a self-described ‘curious soul’, and founder of the Novak Djokovic Foundation.
The charity, which she runs with her husband, seeks to help children achieve their full potential by investing in early childhood development, notably in early years education.
Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Jelena left her home country to study abroad when she was 18. She moved to Italy and then to Morocco where she has lived for the last 12 years.
The couple started dating in 2005 before getting engaged in 2013. Together they have two children, a son Steven Djokovic and daughter Tara Djokovic.
But their marriage has been plagued by cheating rumours over the last decade.
In 2019, the couple were pursued by split rumours after Jelena didn’t attend any of his matches at Wimbledon, it was reported in The Sun.
The couple insisted this was due to their daughter being too young to attend, but their fifth wedding anniversary also went unmarked.
Comments were made by tennis expert John McEnroe in July 2017 who inferred Djokovic’s poor form was due to family issues and likened this decline to Tiger Woods who split from his wife after it was revealed he had cheated on her with 120 women.
According to The Sun, McEnroe said: ‘Woods had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player.’
Novak was taken aback by the comments but said: ‘He has his right to say the things he wants to say. I don’t necessarily need to agree with it. But it’s his right’.
Djokovic has also fuelled rumours through his friendships with other women including Serbian pop star Natasa Bekvalac and his ex-girlfriend DJ Lady Lee. Although they have both shut down suggestions of anything untoward going on.
It is this philanthropic work which Jelena considers to be among the ‘most significant’ things she and her athlete husband have done.
Jelena is a powerful advocate for children, and last October, spoke at the International Conference on Child Safety.
Djokovic was due to take on Ruud of Norway, who has been to four sets in his last two outings after another five setter against Alejandro Davidovich Fokana.
In securing his spot in Wednesday’s last-eight clash, Djokovic also earned himself another record to add to his bulging list of incredible feats.
He earned his 370th Grand Slam win on Monday, surpassing Roger Federer’s 369 that he had drawn level with against Musetti to take the record outright.
Hobbled by a right knee injury, raging at the state of the court, trailing by two sets to one and by a break, the 37-year-old survived by the almost supernatural power of his will.
At four hours and 39 minutes it was Djokovic’s longest ever match at the French Open, but it was not without toll on his body.
He revealed that he will be having tests on his knee on Tuesday, and had contemplated pulling out of the match.
‘For the last couple weeks I have had slight discomfort in the right knee,’ he revealed after yet another incredible win.
‘But I was playing with it and no issues until today. Of course the late finish from few nights ago didn’t help.
‘In the third game of the second set, I slipped, one of the many times I slipped and fell today. That affected the knee.
‘At one point I didn’t know, to be honest, whether I should continue. I got medication and then, after the third set, I asked for more.
‘That was the maximum dose that kicked in after 30 to 45 minutes, which was just about the end of the fourth when things started to really improve.
‘Basically the whole fifth set was almost without any pain. But the effect of the medication will not last for too long. We have done some tests with the doctor after the match. Some positive news but also some concerns, so let’s see tomorrow.’