Novak Djokovic clashed with Wimbledon fans on Centre Court during his match against Wu Yibing on 29 June 2026, cupping his ear after a vital point in the third set. The Serbian veteran appeared rattled by the British audience's support for his opponent, who entered as a major underdog but managed to claim the second set.
Wu Yibing Wins Over Crowd
Wu Yibing, ranked significantly lower than Djokovic, won over the crowd with a series of audacious shots and hard-fought play. His name rang out loud inside the venue as all other evening matches were suspended due to fading light, making the Djokovic vs Wu clash the sole focus. However, as the crowd chanted "Wu," many interpreted the noise as booing directed at Djokovic. The 26-year-old's name was cheered even when Djokovic took points, which visibly frustrated the seven-time Wimbledon champion.
Djokovic's Response
As Djokovic mounted a comeback in the third set, he clinched a vital point. He immediately pointed to his ear and appeared to cup it, casting his gaze around the arena. BBC commentator Andrew Cotter said: "It's loose, it's wide. It's wild from Wu and Djokovic says, 'Cheer for me now'. And they do!" Co-commentator John McEnroe added: "You don't do that to Djokovic, start chanting Wu. It's a bad idea. We've seen it hundreds of times. He's like, 'Thank you.'"
Cotter continued: "He has this curious relationship with Centre Court. Sometimes they go against him, they are looking for the underdog and the story. But if you wind him up like that and cheer for his opponent, he will feed off that."
History of Crowd Tensions
This is not the first occasion that crowd backing for an opponent has antagonised Djokovic. In 2024, the seven-time champion met Holger Rune in the fourth round on Centre Court, and supporters chanted: "Ruuuune." However, the 39-year-old believed they were booing him and addressed the crowd during a tense on-court interview. "To all those people that have chosen to disrespect the player, in this case me, have a gooood night," he said. When informed that the spectators were saying the Dane's name, Djokovic added: "They were disrespecting me. I don't accept it. I know they were cheering for Rune, but that's an excuse to also boo."
Djokovic's Wimbledon Pursuit
Djokovic is attempting to secure a joint-record eighth Wimbledon men's title and is a nine-time finalist at SW19. However, his relationship with the audience has not always been harmonious. He has often felt underappreciated and has insisted that he has not received the same warmth and appreciation that his predecessors, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, received during their careers.
