It comes after Nick Kyrgios was given a verbal warning for swearing on the court and arguing with an umpire

The teenage girl was left shaken and appeared on the verge of tears during the match against Kevin Anderson

repeating 'towel' before wiping his face and discarding it in her direction


He clinched victory after a nail-biting final set against Kevin Anderson this afternoon.

But Novak Djokovic appeared to be feeling the pressure of defending his Wimbledon championship this afternoon before his triumph was sealed.

In the final stint of his match today the Serb seemed to have lost his cool momentarily, shouting and gesticulating towards a baby-faced ball girl.

Apparently requesting his towel amid the afternoon mugginess, the 28-year-old screamed in her direction and held his hands out in anger.

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Feeling the heat: Novak Djokovic lost his temper when calling to a ball girl for his towel on Tuesday as he defeated Kevin Anderson

Strained: The Serbian tennis player looked frustrated and angry as he shouted and gesticulated in the young girl's direction during the final set of his match

After wiping his face he discarded it back in the youngster's direction before resuming play. The girl was left visibly shaken and stifling tears, according to sources on the court.

She was seen nervously drinking from a water bottle moments after the eruption, her cheeks redder than before. After beating his South African opponent, Djokovic allegedly walked off Court No. 1 without glancing in her direction.

A spectator said: ‘He was only two or three feet away, it was full on, I was quite shocked. She had to stay on court afterwards. She was trembling’.

Djokovic had returned to Centre Court after his match against Anderson, 29, was stopped for bad light on Monday night. He had fought back to two sets all after losing the first two sets.

He went on to win 6-7 (6-8) 6-7 (6-8) 6-1 6-4 7-5 but was criticised on Twitter for his outburst and now faces a fine. He said afterwards he would apologise to the young girl ‘if I did something wrong’.

‘It was a very difficult match, one of the most difficult in my Wimbledon career, that’s for sure,’ he said.

Tense: The young girl rushed to bring the star his towel under the watchful gaze of a packed Court One on Tuesday afternoon

Frosty: Djokovic appeared to avoid eye contact once the girl brought the towel to him, handing it back to her with his head turned

Nerves: The girl was left red-faced and was seen nervously drinking from a water bottle after the heated exchange during the fifth set

Rattled: Court sources said the youngster was shaken afterwards and was struggling to perform as quickly following Djokovic's outburst

On edge: The defending champion later described the match as 'frustrating' after having to play it over two days on Monday and Tuesday

Shaken: The teenager was left upset by the encounter but remained silent throughout the star's match against Anderson on Tuesday

Asked about the ball girl, he replied: ‘As I said, it was a very, very intense fifth set today.

‘I just took out everything I had, not on anybody but me. I was looking at the box, but I was talking to myself…emotions are present. Always going through ups and downs…I was trying to get myself motivated. I was not showing much emotions yesterday. I was just trying to keep it together. Sometimes it’s just good to scream and let it all out, because that’s the way I work. Somebody else is different.

‘I’m sorry. There was nothing towards her. Maybe she was just afraid of my screaming there. I was pretty close to her. I’m definitely going to try to apologise to her if I did something wrong.’

Photographers capturing the match said the World Number One had left the girl on the verge of tears after shouting 'aggressively' towards her.

Earlier this year the tennis player issued a public apology to a ball boy he shouted at during the Miami Open. The Wimbledon champion lost his temper with his coaches and 'camp' and began shouting in their direction while playing against his friend Andy Murray.

CAN ANDY FOLLOW HIS BROTHER JAMIE INTO THE SEMIS? Older brother Jamie cruised into the men’s doubles semi-finals Andy Murray will be aiming to follow in his sibling’s footsteps by winning his quarter-final today . Older brother Jamie cruised into the men’s doubles semi-finals last night with partner John Peers, beating Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares. Now Andy, 28, will be taking on Canadian Vasek Pospisil on Centre Court this afternoon. But hopes are high for the British number one as Pospisil takes on his second Murray in a week. The 25-year-old and his partner Jack Sock were knocked out of the men’s doubles by Jamie, 29, and Peers on Monday. Yesterday Andy warmed up under the watchful eye of his pregnant coach Amelie Mauresmo at Aorangi Park. Writing for the BBC, the 2013 Wimbledon champion said his opponent had a ‘great win’ in the singles on Monday when he played ten sets in a day, but added: ‘If he is tired I’ll obviously try to capitalise on that, but I won’t bank on it.’ Advertisement

The boy was caught between Djokovic and his supporters, bearing the brunt of the rant. Issuing a video later that day the Serb said he had 'absolutely no intention' of upsetting or 'scaring' the child.

Today sports journalists at the All England Club reported the star as having said he would apologise to the girl after 'inadvertently' yelling at her. Djokovic's representatives have not responded to MailOnline's requests for comment.

It comes after Australian tennis player Nick Kyrgios was given a warning by officials for swearing on the court yesterday before being caught up in an row over racism.

The 20-year-old was booed when he appeared to give up on his match against Richard Gasquet, hitting the ball into the net with his elbows slack. He erupted into a foul-mouthed rant and warned he may face fines for his behaviour.

Warning: Australian player Nick Kyrgios was told he could face fines for his foul-mouthed outbursts earlier in the week

Love all! On Centre Court, Stephen Fry and his husband Elliott Spencer watched Maria Sharapova defeat Coco Vandeweghe

Taking in the festivities: Mr Fry and Mr Spencer chatted happily in their seats despite the threat of rain which prompted other spectators to bring out their umbrellas

Wishful thinking: At one stage Mr Spencer held out his hands to try to feel for specs of rain while his husband gazed into the sky

Summer style: Mr Fry opted for a traditional summer suit while his husband showed off a more unconventional outfit in white jeans

Fans: Mr Fry has told in the past of 'religiously' attending Wimbledon and watching the tournament on television

Enthusiast: Sir Steve Redgrave waited patiently for start of play on Tuesday, sitting in the Royal Box ahead of Maria Sharapova's appearance

Later, Australian swimming Dawn Fraser made a controversial remark when invited to comment on his performance on a local television station.

Abhorring the young athlete's foul language, she said: 'They should be sending a better example for the younger generation of this country, a great country of ours,' she said.

'If they don’t like it, go back to where their fathers or their parents came from. We don’t need them here in this country if they act like that.'

Kyrgios responded by labelling the 77-year-old a 'blatant racist'. She has since apologised 'unreservedly' for causing any offence.

Blooming: Mother-to-be Katherine Jenkins appeared in high spirits as she enjoyed the match with her husband Andrew Levitas

All smiles: The Welsh beauty watched tentatively as Maria Sharapova defeated her American opponent on the eighth day of the tournament

Matching: Katherine and her new husband sported matching hues of blue to take in the summer events with friends in the Royal Box

Elsewhere British celebrities enjoyed a more gentile day of tennis with Stephen Fry and his husband Elliott Spencer among those in the crowds. The pair, who were married earlier this year despite a 30-year-age gap, were seen sharing a joke as they anticipated rain in the Royal Box this afternoon.

OH I SAY! A deaf player has made it into the third round at Wimbledon. Lee Duck-Hee, 17, from South Korea, has battled through in the Boys’ Singles despite not being able to hear line calls or the score. Advertisement

Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins, who is expecting her first child later this year, was also in attendance with her husband Andrew Levitas. The 35-year-old stunned in a blue dress, wearing her blonde locks in loose curls around her shoulder.

Sir Richard Branson was joined in the crowds by his daughter, Holly, and other members of their family to watch Maria Sharapova defeat Coco Vandeweghe.

Sir Steve Redgrave was also spotted at Centre Court, patiently awaiting the start of play in a customary navy blazer.

Family occasion: Sir Richard Branson and his daughter Holly enjoyed the match with other members of their famous family

Doting: The Virgin tycoon aided his elderly mother Eve across the road as they left the tournament with other members of the family

Mixed crowd: Rapper Drake was spotted in the crowd to watch a match between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka later in the day

Famous friends: The hip hop star embraced Serena's sister Venus as they watched the match unfold together later on Tuesday



