Andre Agassi (Image Via Getty) A small moment during the Wimbledon semifinal between Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner led to a much bigger debate about one of tennis’ oldest habits. After Djokovic won a point with help from the net cord, he immediately raised his hand to apologize to Sinner, something players have done for years. Watching from the BBC commentary box, Andre Agassi questioned whether the tradition still makes sense. The eight-time Grand Slam champion argued that players should stop apologizing for lucky net-cord winners because, in his view, it is unnecessary and one-sided.
Andre Agassi explains why Novak Djokovic’s apology to Jannik Sinner should not be part of tennis
The discussion began after Djokovic’s shot clipped the top of the net and dropped on Sinner’s side for a winner. As expected, Djokovic raised his hand in apology.Agassi did not agree with the gesture. Speaking on BBC One, he said, “Andrew, can we please rally to get rid of that ‘I apologize for hitting the net cord’? I really would love to see that leave the game.”He then explained why he believes the tradition no longer fits modern tennis.“That’s just my personal opinion, sorry for digressing. If you hit the net cord and it doesn’t go over, I don’t see the other person apologizing: ‘Bad luck, it didn’t get over’.”For Agassi, the problem is simple. Players apologize only when the ball lands in their favor. If the ball touches the net and falls back on their own side, nobody apologizes to the opponent. He believes the custom has become more of a habit than a genuine expression of regret.His comments also reflected his long history of questioning tennis traditions. Early in his career, Agassi openly challenged Wimbledon’s strict rules, including its famous all-white dress code. He even skipped the tournament from 1988 to 1990 because he disagreed with several of its traditions.Speaking on ITV’s This Morning in 2017, Agassi looked back on that period and said, “I was a rebel. That’s what I was. I went through my teenage rebellion, and I took issue with any rules that were imposed on this game.”
Bob Bryan, Simona Halep and Steve Johnson have also questioned the net cord apology
Agassi is not the only player who feels the tradition deserves another look. Several current and former professionals have admitted that the apology is mostly about following an unwritten rule rather than expressing real regret.Former doubles world No. 1 Bob Bryan once said players are “never sorry” after winning a point from the net cord because they are actually happy to get the lucky break.Former Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova compared the gesture to everyday politeness. She said it is similar to someone asking, “How are you?” without expecting a detailed answer. In her view, players raise a hand simply because it has become part of tennis etiquette.Simona Halep has also admitted that she finds the tradition uncomfortable. She once said, “I was taught as a kid that you have to say sorry. I’ve thought about this, and I don’t really think it’s fair; you’re happy you won the point.”Former American player Steve Johnson shared a similar opinion, saying he only apologizes when playing close friends. Otherwise, he believes lucky net cords are simply part of the sport.Still, not everyone agrees with ending the custom. During the 2018 Miami Open, Daniil Medvedev criticized Stefanos Tsitsipas for not apologizing after a net-cord winner. That moment showed how deeply the tradition remains part of tennis, even if some of the sport’s biggest names believe it is time for a change.