sport news Novak Djokovic accused of breaking Australian Open Rules in viral video of ... trends now
Serbian tennis champion Novak Djokovic's brave run to the Australian Open finals with an injured leg has been tempered by fresh accusations he could have broken tournament rules.
Footage has emerged of the Serb star receiving the mystery drink during his come-from-behind victory over French player Enzo Couacaud in round two of the Aussie Open.
It came during a match where he surrendered the second set and needed a medical timeout for his troublesome hamstring before going on to victory.
His team are seen putting a label on the water bottle before giving it to a tournament official to hand to Djokovic on court.
The former world No.1 carefully read what was written on the label when he received the bottle.
The footage has raised concerns that Djokovic and his team could have broken rules governing when and where players can be coached during the Open.
Stars are allowed to communicate verbally with their team only when they're on the same side of the court. If they're on opposite sides, signals must be used - which was the case when the footage of Djokovic was taken.
It is the third time in six months that the 21-time grand slam winner has courted controversy with his choice of drink at a tennis tournament.
The incident comes after Djokovic suffered a shock defeat to Danish teenager Holger Rune in the Paris Masters in November, after which a video of his physiotherapist mixing him a drink dominated headlines.
The physio was caught on camera mixing a mystery drink in the stands before handing it to a ball girl to pass along to the Serbian champion. Another member of Djokovic's team used his back to try and obscure vision of what was going on.
A member of Djokovic's team gives the bottle with the freshly attached label to a tournament official to hand to him during play in round two of the Australian Open
Djokovic took the time to carefully read the label that was on the bottle, with some suggesting it contained coaching notes from his team
Prior to that, the 21-time grand slam champion attracted attention for appearing to inhale a substance from a water bottle at the Wimbledon
