World number one Novak Djokovic denies 'cheating' allegations

29 June 2015 - 16:29 By Times LIVE
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after his match against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka at the end of their men's final match of the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 7, 2015.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after his match against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka at the end of their men's final match of the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 7, 2015.
Image: AFP PHOTO / PATRICK KOVARIK

World number one Novak Djokovic has admitted on Sunday that players do find a way to bend the rules to their advantage but denied flouting the game’s rules by receiving illegal coaching during his matches.

ATP rules specifically forbid communication "of any kind, audible or visible, between a player and a coach" but Djokovic was quick to defend himself against allegations of cheating, according to a CNN report.

"I don't think that's how you can call it," he told reporters.

"I mean, there are special ways of, I would say, communication. The way you look at each other, the way you 'feel' your box, and box 'feels' what you're going through on the court.

The 28-year-old Djokovic revealed however that there were more subtle ways for coaches to get their message across.

"We can't pretend like that's not happening in tennis.”

Djokovic was speaking on the eve of his Wimbledon defense, after comments by his former coach Boris Becker, who said his backroom staff "have our ways" of signaling to the Serbian "to tell him it's good or it's bad."

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now