Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic in fresh water bottle viral video before Alex de Minaur clash

Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic has become embroiled in a fresh controversy – with a suspicious act from his current Australian Open campaign going viral. WATCH THE VIDEO.

Another tournament another water bottle drama for Novak Djokovic.

A video of the former world No 1’s team sticking a note to a water bottle and having it delivered to him mid-match has gone viral with fans questioning whether it flouts ATP rules.

The incident occurred during Djokovic’s second round clash with Enzo Couacauo on Thursday of week 1 at Melbourne Park.

In the 54-second clip, the man sitting next to Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic is seen passing a bottle to a court official during a change of ends which is then delivered to the Serb.

La regla del “Coaching” es clara. Verbal, frases cortas cuando el jugador está del lado de la cancha de su box y de señas cuando está del otro lado. No tengo claro sobre “Mensajes en una botella”. ¿Alguien me lo puede a aclarar? Quien recibe la botella es el supervisor Armstrong. pic.twitter.com/NYmdzviRfE

— LuisAlfredoAlvarez🇻🇪🇺🇸 (@LuisAlvarez_1) January 21, 2023

He immediately ditches the container and opens the note.

Now, questions being raised about the legality of the interaction under new rules.

Coaching during matches has become legal in tennis but with limitations.

Players are permitted verbal communication with their team when playing on the same side of the court.

Crucially, the video shows that Djokovic is seated for the change of ends so this is a cross-court interaction.

Novak Djokovic takes rest between the break during his third-round victory over Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov. Picture: AFP

It’s not the first time Djokovic has been caught up in a drink bottle “drama”.

At the Paris Master last year a video of his team preparing a drink for him also went viral.

During his semi-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas, Djokovic;’s team huddled around each other in an attempt to conceal what they were preparing in the 36-year-old’s drink bottle.

It was the body language of his team and their mad attempts to hide what they were doing that sparked the biggest conversation with calls for more transparency in player match consumption.

Controversy has a way of following Novak Djokovic. Picture: Getty

Djokovic was previously asked about unknown substances he appeared to inhale at Wimbledon. The then 35-year-old’s response: “It’s a magic potion, that’s all I can say”.

“You’ll find out soon,” he added, “but I can’t speak about it now.”

Djokovic takes on Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the quarter-finals on Monday night with an injury cloud hanging over the Serb’s chances of going for a 10th Aus Open title.

He arrived in Melbourne with a hamstring injury which appears to be worsening every time he takes to the court.

The match starts at 7pm AEDT Monday night.

Originally published as Australian Open 2023: Novak Djokovic in fresh water bottle viral video before Alex de Minaur clash