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Reuters

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Reuters

Novak Djokovic had a decent run in the recently concluded Serbia Open in his native country. The 20-time Grand Slam champion made it to the finals before losing out to Andrey Rublev in the title clash. However, in the earlier rounds, he rejoiced the home crowd by putting on an incredible display of grit and determination. He came from behind in each of the matches to make it to the summit clash.

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However, in the finals, Djokovic had a controversial moment. The Serb expressed his frustration by throwing a racket. Subsequently, renowned journalist Ben Rothenberg made a statement that didn’t go down well with American tennis star, Reilly Opelka.

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Reilly Opelka expresses disappointment over the journalist’s statement on Novak Djokovic

Tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg took to Twitter, taking a dig at Djokovic’s actions at the Serbia Open. He said, “On Djokovic, good news is he got lots of time on court this week after depriving himself of it, playing for over 10 hours in his four matches. Bad news is that he-like others on ATP-still has a real problem with launching reckless projectiles in anger that hit/nearly hit folks.”

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USA Today via Reuters

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Subsequently, slamming the journalist for his statement, Opelka said, “The good news here, is you lose so much credibility every time you spread misinformation. The bad news is, you don’t face any consequences (revoking of media credential) for being incredibly biased and blatantly lying.

Further, the Serb is having an unusual start to the season, having played in only three tournaments this season. Meanwhile, Opelka has had a contrasting season, having won two titles in Dallas and Houston. The duo will participate at the Madrid Open, taking place this week. Can Djokovic win his first title this season in Spain? Let us know your views in the comments below.

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Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

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