Andy Roddick clarifies ‘concerning’ Novak Djokovic comments after social media criticism

Novak Djokovic’s devoted fans don’t need an invite to leap to the defence of their hero when they identify what they view as criticism of the tennis great, and former world No 1 Andy Roddick was their latest target in recent days.
Roddick has heaped praise on Djokovic over the course of his career and suggested he should be regarded as the greatest player of all time ahead of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal many years ago.
Yet when he described Djokovic’s performances in his first clay-court event of 2024 as “concerning”, the Novak defence machine cranked into gear.
“I’m having a hard time getting a read on the Novak we say in Monte Carlo and the reasonings for it,” Roddick told the Tennis Channel.
“In the first set, he looked exhausted. The rally would go seven or eight balls and he looked exhausted.
“We are talking a 72-degree day and 2-2 or 3-3 in the first set and it was weird to watch.
“Then he finds his game and comes back, but in the last game of the match he missed a first ball, he misses a high volley by seven or eight feet… we are supposed to know what is going to happen based on history and it just didn’t all week.
“It’s like he was searching for something all week. The physical stuff, I don’t know what it is. It’s a little concerning.
“You don’t normally see someone who is jaded early and comes back, but it’s a little concerning.”
READ MORE: Andy Roddick makes ‘concerning’ Novak Djokovic observation after watching his Monte Carlo defeat
Speaking on his brilliant Served with Andy Roddick podcast, the former US Open champion revealed those comments had sparked some social media criticism from Djokovic fans, as he insisted the world No 1 should be satisfied with his efforts in Monte Carlo, where he lost a tight semi-final against Casper Ruud.
“It was a good week for Novak. He got his paces in,” declared Roddick.
“You have to be a certain type of player for people to criticise a semi-final showing in the first clay court tournament of the year when you have only played two events all year and you beat a top ten player along the way.
“No other player would get criticism for that, so we are going to leave that there.
“It was a little strange that he was like, labouring. His breath looked like it was short, especially against [Alex] De Minaur. It was like he was still trying to find his match fitness, but that is not a criticism. This is normal.
“I’m so scared of Nole’s [Djokovic’s] Twitter people. I say something like he was breathing heavily and even though he was breathing heavily, they are like f*** you! I just eat s*** from them all the time.
“I am effusive about how brilliant he is. I think I was the first to say that he was the greatest before it was generally accepted, but you can’t win them all.
“I thought it was a good week for Novak. Uncharacteristic at the end, but if you haven’t played a lot of matches, it’s unrealistic to think you will play at the peak of your abilities.
“He needs to play more tennis going into Roland Garros. He knows better than anyone how to manage this part of the year.
“He has slowly ramped up the clay court season to get to a Roland Garros title, so I’m not worried about him.”