Novak Djokovic's Wimbledon antics spark worldwide buzz

Novak Djokovic, the 39‑year‑old Serbian tennis champion, joked about football star Lionel Messi after completing a five‑hour, 15‑minute quarter‑final victory at Wimbledon 2026. Djokovic said it would be "nice to play 90 minutes like him," linking his longevity on the court to Messi's sustained brilliance.

Earlier in the tournament, Djokovic staged a light‑hearted prank on a ball girl while she was assisting with his shoulder taping. He pretended to be injured, spooking the girl before laughing it off. He later met her again, apologized for the scare, gave her a signed cap and took a photo together. The incident was widely shared online and added a human‑interest highlight to Djokovic’s campaign for an eighth Wimbledon title and a 25th Grand Slam victory.