TENNIS
What’s the problem with Novak Djokovic’s grey knee brace at Wimbledon?
The Serbian player mentioned that he had requested permission to use a specific type of protection, which may have violated the tournament’s dress code.
Novak Djokovic played against the Czech Vit Kopriva at Wimbledon this Tuesday with a knee brace on his right leg. He underwent surgery on June 7 and wears it to protect and strengthen that part of his body. Until then, there is nothing to object to. The problem is that the therapeutic scrap is gray because, in principle, it violates the dress code imposed ancestrally on the players by the tournament.
That’s why Djokovic was asked about it in the press conference after his first-round match. “The knee pad looked gray on the court,” a journalist asked him. “Grey or great,” the Serbian joked. “It’s gray, yes. But I’ve asked. In fact, I just met the president (of the club, Debbie Jevans, the first woman to assume the position) right before entering the court. She gave me the thumbs up like this, which was good. The days before, we checked if we would have permission. We are trying to find a white one,” Novak revealed.
“I saw Frances Tiafoe play, and he had black sleeves. Grey, maybe better, leaning a little towards white. I know it’s not ideal. I like to wear all white, and I like to respect the rules. But I got the permission. I told them we would do our best to respect them in the next match,” Djokovic promised. That will be on Thursday, against the British Jacob Fearnley.