Novak Djokovic recently shared a lighthearted moment with a Wimbledon ball girl he had playfully pranked during a previous match. The encounter occurred ahead of his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime.
During his second-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic asked the ball girl to cut a piece from his sleeve with scissors. He then pretended she had injured him, a gesture that amused the crowd. The ball girl's initial reaction was one of shock, with her hand flying to her chest as she believed she had accidentally hurt the Serbian player.
Upon their reunion, Djokovic apologized for the scare, attributing it to his "Serbian sense of humour." The ball girl responded positively, stating she found the prank amusing. Following their conversation, Djokovic presented her with signed caps from his racket bag. The ball girl then playfully remarked that she had considered a prank in return but decided against it to avoid embarrassment.
The pair posed for a photograph outside the practice courts. This incident, along with Djokovic's positive remarks about Rory McIlroy, appears to have contributed to a warmer reception from the Wimbledon crowd, a shift from his past experiences as a perceived "pantomime villain."
Social media users reacted humorously to the prank, with comments noting the ball girl's startled reaction and praising Djokovic's sense of humor. Djokovic is currently competing in Wimbledon, with his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime scheduled for Tuesday afternoon. He is looking to win his 25th Grand Slam title, particularly with Carlos Alcaraz absent due to injury.