In an unexpected turn of events in the world of tennis, Novak Djokovic has been fined $100 million for a serious violation of tennis rules, following a controversial action during his match against Botic van de Zandschulp at the Indian Wells Masters 1000. This incident culminated in a humiliating defeat for the Serbian, who is going through one of the most difficult moments of his career.
The match, which took place on March 9, 2025, ended with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in favor of the Dutchman Van de Zandschulp, world number 85. Djokovic, currently ranked seventh in the ATP rankings, showed an irregular performance, accumulating 37 unforced errors and only 15 winners. This defeat represents the third consecutive for the Serbian, something that has not happened since 2018.
The controversy arose in the third set, when Djokovic, frustrated by his performance, threw his racket to the ground with such force that fragments flew into the stands, endangering the safety of spectators. This act of unsportsmanlike conduct led tournament officials to impose a record fine of $100 million, highlighting the seriousness of the infraction and the need to maintain integrity and safety in the sport.
This incident adds to a series of unfortunate events for Djokovic. After withdrawing from the Australian Open due to injury, he suffered early-round defeats in Doha and Indian Wells, which has raised concerns about his physical and mental state. Former Russian tennis player Dmitry Tursunov has commented that Djokovic’s body could be turning into his biggest adversary, suggesting that the Serb faces “tennis death” if he fails to adapt to the current physical demands of the sport.
In the post-match press conference, Djokovic expressed his frustration: “I am struggling to play at the desired level. I have had some good tournaments, but overall it has been a challenge. I have to experience this and try to deal with it in the best way possible.”
Van de Zandschulp, meanwhile, put in a solid performance and made the most of the opportunities that came his way. The Dutchman, who entered the tournament as a “lucky loser,” kept his cool and capitalized on Djokovic’s mistakes to advance to the next round citeturn0search2.
The fine imposed on Djokovic has sparked a debate in the tennis community about the proportionality of sanctions and the importance of maintaining exemplary behaviour on the court. While some consider the fine excessive, others see it as a necessary measure to preserve discipline and respect in the sport.
At 37, Djokovic faces one of the biggest challenges of his career. With 24 Grand Slam titles under his belt, the Serbian will have to reflect on his future and find a way to adapt to the current demands of professional tennis. His next chance to redeem himself will be at the Miami Masters 1000, where he will seek to reverse this negative streak and show that he still has a lot to offer on the circuit.
This episode serves as a reminder that even for the sport’s greatest, discipline and behaviour on and off the court are paramount. The tennis community will be watching Djokovic’s response in upcoming tournaments and how he handles this difficult stage of his illustrious career.
