Novak Djokovic calls out Italian Open opponent over lack of sportsmanship after getting hit by ball

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For Novak Djokovic, there’s a difference between following the rules of the game and good sportsmanship. 

During his Round of 16 match against Cameron Norrie at the Italian Open on Tuesday, the 22-time Grand Slam champion felt his opponent lacked the latter. 

Cameron Norrie of Great Britain plays a forehand during the Men's Singles match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at Foro Italico on May 16, 2023 in Rome, Italy.  (Giampiero Sposito/Getty Images)

Djokovic was hit with the ball early in the second set of the match after he conceded a point to Norrie. 

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The Serbian tennis pro, who is defending his title in Rome, had turned his back to the net, which both players had approached and seemingly conceded the point when Norrie hit the ball into the back of Djokovic’s leg. 

Djokovic shot an icy glare back at Norrie as he headed back to the service line, but it wasn’t just an isolated incident that led him to call out his opponent after securing his place in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-4 win. 

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the Men's Singles match against Cameron Norrie of Great Britain at Foro Italico on May 16, 2023 in Rome, Italy.  (Giampiero Sposito/Getty Images)

"I did watch the replay when he hit me. Maybe you could say he didn’t hit me deliberately," Djokovic told reporters during his post-match press conference.

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"It was not so much maybe about that, but it was a combination of things. From the very beginning, I don’t know — he was doing all the things that were allowed. He’s allowed to take a