John McEnroe picks a damning word to slam Novak Djokovic jeers at Australian Open

John McEnroe has slammed the fans who booed Novak Djokovic off the courts after he was forced to quit in his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
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.”
McEnroe was then asked to give his verdict on the scenes in Melbourne and he was not impressed by the reaction of the crowd.
“He’s won this thing ten times, so come on. Something was clearly up,” McEnroe told Channel 9 in Australia. “The guy’s a battler. Him and Rafa have dug deeper than any two players I’ve ever seen mentally and physically.
“To do that after he decided he couldn’t go on after everything he’s done here was absolutely ludicrous. That was depressing. To see him put his thumbs up… I mean, too bad.”
Seven-time Grand Slam singles champion McEnroe created headlines when he questioned the severity of Djokovic’s injury during his commentary for ESPN on the Alcaraz match, but he didn’t hold back as he slammed spectators who jeered the Serbian as he left the court.
“He’s won this thing ten times, so come on. Something was clearly up,” McEnroe told Channel 9 in Australia. “The guy’s a battler. Him and Rafa (Nadal) have dug deeper than any two players I’ve ever seen mentally and physically.
“To do that after he decided he couldn’t go on after everything he’s done here was absolutely ludicrous. That was depressing. To see him put his thumbs up… I mean, too bad.”
McEnroe went on to suggest Djokovic did not show any major impact of the muscle injury in a tight first set, as he admitted he was stunned when the 24-time Grand Slam winner called time on the match after he lost the first set.
“We were all wondering how he was going to hold up after the match against Carlos, but I thought he was moving pretty well, managing things well,” he continued.
“Clearly Zverev was tight, you know, trying to get the nerves out. It was a very closely contested first set. An hour and 20 minutes.
“The only person who was happy in the stadium was Zverev when he put his hand out. We were all like ‘oh my God’.
More Tennis News
Novak Djokovic sheds light on injury after retiring from Alexander Zverev Australian Open showdown
Alexander Zverev emulates Rafael Nadal with unusual feat as he reaches maiden Australian Open final
McEnroe went on to suggest Zverev’s progression to the final will not be tarnished by Djokovic’s exit, as he suggested a first Grand Slam win in Sunday’s final against Jannik Sinner would be a crowning moment for the German.
“In ten years time, if Zverev wins this, no one is going to know or care that Novak didn’t play. He got through, it’s not his fault,” he added.
“It’s a bummer as it was getting interesting, but Zverev has had a roller-coaster ride to get to a major. He served for the match against (Dominic) Thiem (in the 2020 US Open final) and he was two sets to one up against Alcaraz at the French Open last year.
“I thought he was very passive in that match. Honestly, the way I was taught is don’t beat yourself.
“When it’s the best against the best, sometimes you are not good enough, but he can’t play like that against Sinner. I don’t think that would work.