Novak Djokovic is losing more than just his racket after his outburst on Sunday.
After losing the third game in the fifth set of his epic match with Carlos Alcaraz during the Wimbledon final, Djokovic unleashed his fury on his racket.
He slammed it into the net post, destroying its frame in his disgust with his inability to hold serve.
Following Djokovic’s loss to Alcaraz, he was hit with an $8,000 (£6,100) fine for “racket abuse,” the largest individual fine in 2023.
The fine is a drop in the bucket for the Serbian tennis legend, who made $1.4 million for his runner-up performance in London.
Djokovic’s net worth is estimated to be $240 million, per Celebrity Net Worth.
The racket abuse penalty was just another episode in a controversial tournament for Djokovic, who was also penalized on Sunday for a time violation between serves and was called for a hindrance violation after a loud grunt in the semifinal against Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic, 36, had not lost on Wimbledon’s Centre Court in 10 years before Sunday’s defeat, and he had captured the last four titles at the All-England Lawn Tennis Club.
Alcaraz, a 20-year-old Spanish sensation, won his second career Grand Slam with the victory, toppling a giant of the sport in a match for the ages that finished, 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, in favor of the Spaniard.
The two men, who are currently the top two seeds in men’s tennis, have played three matches against one another, and Alcaraz has won two.
Wimbledon’s thrilling finale sets the stage for a potential rematch during the U.S. Open, which Alcaraz won last year for his first major title during his ascendant young career.
At least one person was happy with Djokovic’s racket smash in the final: a lucky fan, who posed with the mangled racket after Djokovic handed it to him following the match’s conclusion.
