Australian Open: What is in Novak Djokovic’s water bottle?

Those claiming Novak Djokovic’s receipt of mysterious items from his trainers mid-match as suspicious don’t understand the rules. One former entourage insider solves the mystery.

Novak Djokovic and his team caught in a fresh bottle controversy.

It’s the greatest mystery of the Australian Open but one which the authorities are happy to turn a blind eye to.

What is in Novak’s water bottles?

Once again in his quarter-final match-up on Wednesday night, nine-time champion Novak Djokovic received a special bottle from his team in the stands during play.

Earlier in the week during his second-round defeat of Enzo Couacaud, a paper note was attached to the bottle which was handed from his entourage to ATP tour supervisor Gerry Armstrong who carried it onto court, delivering it to the Serbian during a change of ends.

Why is Djokovic allowed to receive items from his team during matches while no other players do anything of the sort?

Why can’t he do his own mix of supplements on the court?

Why aren’t they pre-made and already in his bag on court?

So many questions but few clear answers.

A water gets handed down from the Djokovic box … Picture: Michael Klein

...the bottle is passed on to a ball kid … Picture: Michael Klein

...where it makes its way to Novak Djokovic. Picture: Michael Klein

The new rules around coaching help Djokovic’s case. At the Australian Open verbal on-court coaching is allowed but only if players and coaches are on the same side of the court.

Signals and gestures are allowed if players are on the other side of the court which is the set-up on Rod Laver Arena.

But does that allow the delivery of mysterious items during matches?

According to Craig O’Shannessy, formerly part of Djokovic’s coaching entourage, while the behaviour is being viewed as “suspicious” it is all within the rules of the sport and quite normal practice.

“The video appeared like the note came with it but if you look closely he was already looking at the note, which is great from a coaching point of view to have players looking at notes mid-match signals that they’re locked in,” O’Shannessy said.

“The players take a lot on court with them already, bag, racquets etc and a lot of times they don’t really know what’s going to happen. They don’t know which electrolytes they’re going to need. This is completely normal and totally within the rules.

“In the day-to-day matches, for the coaching staff, particularly for the physio, it’s very normal for them to make something up as the match goes along and give it to Novak.

“If you’re not familiar with the inner workings of tennis it may look a little suspicious but it is not at all. Literally zero suspicion for a physio to create a drink and hand it over. It happens all the time.

“Sometimes what happens at a slam is different to what happens at an ATP event.

“This is not unique to Novak, it’s not underhanded, some might want it to be but it’s what most players do on a day-to-day basis.”

Mystery drinks aren’t new and every player has their own concoction which they swear by and keep the supplements used a close secret.

Djokovic’s team didn’t help themselves any favours in November when physiotherapist Ulises Badio was filmed preparing a mysterious elixir in the stands with other members of the entourage then shifting position to try and block the camera’s view.

If you’re got nothing to hide guys, why the subterfuge?

Djokovic has spoken about his “magic potion” previously but after that video went viral his wife even got involved, taking to social media to tell everybody there was nothing “dodgy” happening.

That’s all well and good but seriously, why all the cloak and dagger? As they say, sometimes pictures tell a thousand words.