Novak Djokovic's frustration boiled over once again as he smashed his racket in a fit of rage during his 6-3 4-6 6-3 win over Dominik Koepfer in the Italian Open quarter-finals.
The top-ranked Serb was broken to love in the sixth game of the second set and he threw his racket on the ground, drawing a warning from the umpire, less than two weeks after being disqualified from the US Open.
"Well, let me tell you it's not the first nor the last racket that I'll break in my career," Djokovic, 33, said. "I have done it before, I'll probably do it again. I don't want to do it, but when it comes, it happens.
"That's how I guess I release sometimes my anger. And it's definitely not the best message out there, especially for the young tennis players looking at me.
"I don't encourage that, definitely. But, look, we're all people. We all do our best. There were times and periods when I don't do that, and there are periods when I do," he said.
The Serb was disqualified from the US Open after inadvertently hitting a ball into a line judge's throat during his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta.
Djokovic's red mist
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Novak Djokovic tends to a line judge he hit with the ball during his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the 2020 US Open. The Serb was subsequently disqualified. AFP -
Novak Djokovic smashes his racquet in frustration during his match against Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus in their third round match at Wimbledon in 2011. EPA -
Novak Djokovic smashes his racquet to the ground after losing a point during his men's second round singles match against Marco Chiudinelli at the Australian Open in 2010. EPA -
Serbia's Novak Djokovic holds his broken racquet during the Tennis Davis Cup World final match against France's Gael Monfils at the Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia in 2010. EPA -
Novak Djokovic smashes his racquet as he plays Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain during their men's third round match during the French Open in 2018. EPA -
Novak Djokovic tosses his raCquet as he takes on Victor Hanescu during their third round match for the French Open in 2010. EPA -
Novak Djokovic kicks at a ball in frustration during his match against Tommy Robredo in their third round match of the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament at the Linder Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio, USA in 2014. EPA -
Novak Djokovic smashes his racquet after losing a game against Milos Raonic during the Western and Southern Open in 2018. EPA -
Novak Djokovic throws his racquet as he plays against Dominic Thiem during their quarter final match at the the French Open in 2017. EPA
Djokovic, who apologised at the time and vowed to take away valuable lessons from the incident, reiterated that he was working on his "mental and emotional health" to try and help keep a lid on his emotions.
"It's always been part of my, I guess, training and recovery, as well, developing strong character and understanding myself on different levels, holistic approach to life," the 17-time Slam champion said.
"That's just me. Of course I'm not perfect. I'm doing my best."
Djokovic, who faces Norway's Casper Ruud in the semi-finals, will fancy his chances of sealing a record 36th Masters 1000 crown following nine-time champion Rafa Nadal's shock exit at the hands of Diego Schwartzman.
