NOVAK DJOKOVIC bizarrely claimed he was ‘Iron Man' after a mysterious coin-shaped item was seen taped to his chest at the French Open.
The Serbian tennis superstar progressed into the third round with a 7-6 6-0 6-3 win over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics last night in Paris.
After needing an incredible hour and 27 minutes to win the opening set, the 22-time Grand Slam champion changed his shirt on Court Philippe-Chatrier and the strange piece was picked up by TV cameras.
Later, Djokovic received a similar circular object from a ball girl – which had presumably been passed to her via his team in the stands – and he took off the first one from his body and attached the new one.
It led to fans and tennis pundits to compare Djokovic to Tony Stark, the Marvel Universe comic-book character, who built a weaponised, technologically-advanced Iron suit.
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Former world No1 Jim Courier, who was commentating on the match for the Tennis Channel, said: “Something is taped to Novak.
“Have you ever seen Robert Downey Jr. in the same room as Djokovic? Maybe Novak is Iron Man?”
Some speculated it was a Q Magnet, a therapeutic pain-relief tool that claims to help with chronic pain or fatigue.
Djokovic, who is known for his pseudo-science beliefs, was asked by journalists about ‘the pin on his breast’ but typically, he avoided giving the real answer, providing a cryptic response instead.
The reigning Wimbledon champion said: “When I was a kid I liked Iron Man a lot, so I try to impersonate Iron Man.
“You know, my team delivers an incredibly efficient nanotechnology to help me deliver my best on the court, so that’s the biggest secret of my career.
“If it wasn’t for that, I probably wouldn't be sitting here.”
It looks like Djokovic was wearing a Taopatch, which is a patented wearable nanotechnology device that combines acupuncture with light therapy.
Before taking to court the night-time session, Nole had been told not to write pro-Kosovo messages again at this year’s tournament.
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The 36-year-old scribbled “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia – Stop the violence” on a Roland Garros camera following his first-round win on Monday.
It followed a weekend of rising tensions and violence between his native Serbia, NATO peacekeepers and neighbouring Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.
While the words themselves did not violate any Grand Slam rules, French tennis bosses had a chat with Djokovic and his team, reminding him of his responsibilities during the clay-court tournament.
France’s sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera criticised his actions, saying: “When you carry messages about defending human rights, messages that bring people together around universal values, a sportsperson is free to express them.
“But in this case it was a message that is very activist, that is very political.
“You shouldn’t get involved, especially in the current circumstances, and it shouldn’t happen again.”
Late on Wednesday night, Djokovic defended his position, saying it is something he “stands for”.
However he accepts that it is rare he would sail through a major fortnight without courting some form of controversy.
The world No3 said: “Of course I’m aware that a lot of people would disagree, but it is what it is.
“It’s something that I stand for. So that’s all.
“You know, a drama-free Grand Slam, I don’t think it can happen for me. You know, I guess that drives me as well.
“I have no more comment on that. I said what I needed to say.”