Another controversy surrounds Novak Djokovic at Australian Open during win over Andrey Rublev

Novak Djokovic is once again the talk of the Australian Open after footage emerged of the fourth seed receiving a message taped to his water bottle from his entourage during his quarterfinal win over Russia’s Andrey Rublev on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old Serbian superstar, who is chasing his 10th career Grand Slam title at Melbourne Park, received some instructions from his team while sitting in the stands at Rod Laver Arena.

The incident unfolded in just the third game of the first set.

It follows a paper note attached to another bottle passed to ATP tour supervisor Gerry Armstrong, who hand-delivered it to Djokovic during his second-round match against Enzo Couacaud.

Many tennis fans have long formed the opinion that different rules seem to apply for Djokovic.

Was it a supplement tip about the bottle? A moving message to stay focused? We will never know.

While there could be a valid explanation, the predictable silence from Djokovic’s camp, and the man himself, will only fuel more rumours.

Novak Djokovic is once again the talk of the Australian Open after footage emerged of the fourth seed receiving a message taped to his water bottle from his entourage (pictured, reading the message)

The water bottle Djokovic received from his team armed with a message: unknown what was written

At the Australian Open, verbal coaching is allowed on court, but only if players and coaches are on the same side of the court, News Corp reported.

Practical signals and gestures are also allowed if the players are on the other side of the court.

The conspiracy theories will continue after Djokovic’s physiotherapist, Ulises Badio, was caught preparing a ‘mystery potion’ in the stands of a tournament last November.

When members of the Serb’s support team tried to block the camera’s view, eyebrows were raised.

Djokovic’s wife, Jelena, later clarified everything on social media, nothing ‘dubious’ had happened.

Not everyone on the Melbourne court expects Djokovic to win until Sunday’s final.

One supporter encouraged Rublev to ‘send him home’, angering the fed up Serb.

The 35-year-old pointed to a fan in the crowd who chanted ‘send him home’ on Wednesday.

Djokovic was deported from Australia last year after a dispute over his vaccination status.

He returned to Melbourne Park this year aiming to win his 10th Australian Open title.

The 35-year-old returned to Melbourne Park for this year’s tournament, having missed out on the 2022 event after the Australian government infamously deported him due to his vaccination status.

Djokovic was clearly upset by the boos from the Rod Laver Arena crowd during his straight-set quarterfinal triumph.

He was heard urging referee James Keothavong to take action after the fan was heard yelling: “Send him home Rublev, send him home.”

When Rublev was serving 4-1 down, Djokovic told the referee: ‘Can you tell the striker to shut up or not? Every point, every point where you’re not reacting.

Then, after winning the first set, Djokovic continued: “I don’t care if he’s rooting for it.” [Rublev]. But three or four times in a row she has said things about me.

Djokovic has had his fair share of run-ins with fans during this year’s tournament, complaining about a fan who was “drunk out of his mind” in the early rounds.

Speaking about the rowdy crowd, Djokovic said: “What I have a problem with is when somebody crosses the line, a lot of times… and says things that weren’t respectful at all.”

Djokovic, who said the booing had been going on for over an hour and a half, added: “I’ve had enough, you know?”

He then takes on rising star from the USA Tommy Paul on Friday for a spot in the final.