Andy Roddick doesn’t hold back on Novak Djokovic as he gives ‘s****y’ verdict

Kevin Palmer
Andy Roddick gives his verdict on Novak Djokovic
Andy Roddick gives his verdict on Novak Djokovic

The fall-out from Novak Djokovic’s exit from the Australian Open continues to stir emotions, with former world No 1 Andy Roddick the latest big name to slam the Melbourne fans after they booked the ten-time champion off the court.

Djokovic was forced to retire from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev due to a muscle injury, with the packed crowd hoping to see an epic five-set match venting their annoyance on the Serbian as he left the court.

It was a curious response to a 10-time Australian Open champion who was later seen limping out of Melbourne Park after he gave his reaction to the hostile send-off.

Djokovic did not practise on site on Wednesday or Thursday as he nursed a muscle injury sustained in his win against Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday and he explained the reason for his withdrawal in a post-match press conference.

“I did everything I possibly can to manage the muscle tear that I had,” said Djokovic.

“Medications, the strap and the physio work helped to some extent today. But towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.

“Even if I won the first set, it’s going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him in the rallies for another God knows what, two, three, four hours. I don’t think I had that, unfortunately, today in the tank.”

His opponent Zverev also lashed out at the fans, as he insisted Djokovic should not be blamed for his early exit.

“Please guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury,” said Zverev. “I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see a great five-set match.

“But you have to understand for the past 20 years Novak Djokovic has given tennis absolutely everything.

“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue with this match, it means he really can’t continue.”

Seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe blasted the Australian Open crowd for their reaction and former world No 1 Justine Henin also criticised the Melbourne jeers for the Serbian.

Now former US Open champion Roddick has waded into the debate and he didn’t hold back in his condemnation of the Australian Open spectators.

“I thought it was so s****y to boo someone who’s won ten times there,” said Roddick on his latest Served podcast. “Someone who you don’t know if they are going to come back.

“It would suck if Novak’s last memory in a place where we have seen excellence from him to the point where we probably take it too much for granted to be getting booed off the court. That sucks man.

“You hope that he has that beautiful sunset in a place where he has provided so much excellence.

“I’m not saying you have to agree with everything he’s done, but he’s really friendly to everyone in the locker room. He is really courteous to all his fellow players and they really respect him.

“Maybe we disagree with some stuff, that’s fine, but we have to appreciate excellence. We have to appreciate history. We can’t be petty when someone is hurt.

“Do you think Novak wanted to walk off the court there? Of course not. He wanted to win again and say ‘f you’ to everyone who doubted him.

“You don’t think he wanted to turn this upside down. He’s done it before here and won the tournament.

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“I felt sad for him, for tennis and this tournament. Simply, when someone has won ten times there and won more Slams than any male in history, I don’t need to see the parade of a trainer running out with a backpack that you could’ve given Novak to make him better in 45 seconds.

“Props to Zverev for saying basically the same thing. That was a cool moment for him.”

Djokovic may use his exit from the court in Melbourne as juice to inspire him to return in 2026, but there is a real chance his unsuitable departure from Rod Laver Arena may have been his final farewell to a tournament that has given him so much and also served up his most painful moment.

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