Novak Djokovic’s graphic social media post highlights how he gets special treatment

Kevin Palmer
Novak Djokovic shows pain at the US Open
Novak Djokovic shows pain at the US Open

Novak Djokovic has always operated under different rules and he clearly decided the time was right to strike back at his critics.

The dust is still settling on Djokovic’s retirement from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev, with the jeers he received as he left the court sparking a huge talking point.

Djokovic sustained a muscle injury during his thrilling win against Carlos Alcaraz in the previous round and while he tried to give his all against Zverev, he was forced to pull out at the end of the first set.

“I did everything I possibly can to manage the muscle tear that I had,” said the 37-year-old.

“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.”

Djokovic also spoke about the abuse that flowed his way from the stands as he left the court as he added: “I don’t know what to say. People came, they paid for the tickets expecting a great match and a big fight, which they didn’t get.

“From that perspective, I can understand. I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to understand me.

“I know how my body works, what I feel, and I know how much I’ve given to this tournament in the past 20-plus years. I will stop here, so that I don’t continue (speaking) in the wrong direction.”

The jeers came amid suggestions that Djokovic was embellishing the extent of his injury as he turned in a stunning performance against Alcaraz.

John McEnroe suggested Djokovic has a habit of using injury scares to change the direction of a match during his ESPN commentary on the Alcaarz match, with the Serbian reacting to those suggestions with some pointed comments in his press conference.

“To be honest, I haven’t seen these comments, so I can’t say more,” he said. “What I can say is that it’s always easier to judge and criticise than to understand. It’s a lesson I’ve learned in life.”

Djokovic stepped up his response to his doubters by posting an MRI scan of his injury on his social media platforms as he added this pointed message: “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury “experts” out there.”

It is ridiculous that a 24-time Grand Slam champion feels the need to respond to critics who suggest he fakes injuries, especially after he was forced to withdraw from another major championship.

Djokovic had to pull out of last year’s French Open due to injury, with his ability to play through the pain barrier and still play at a remarkably high level leaving some spectics convinced his injury complaints are not as bad as they seem.

For an icon who has given so much to the sport, the idea that he is hyping up injuries to distract his opponents is a charge he should not be forced to respond to.

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The jeers he was forced to put up with as he left the court in Melbourne were also ridiculous.

This would not have happened to Roger Federer. This would not have happened to Rafael Nadal.

In fact, this would not have happened to any other player who was forced to retire from a match as only Djokovic will be questioned over the validity of an injury.

If that was his last appearance in Melbourne, it would be a tragedy if his final appearance on a court he has made his own was laced with such negativty.

Yet this is the fate Djokovic seems destined to accept.

Would any other sport treat their most successful champion of all-time with such disrespect?

It is hard to imagine an all-time great like Tiger Woods being booed or accused of faking injuries and can anyone imagine Lionel Messi being booed off a football pitch with fans suspecting he was faking an injury.

None of this abuse flowing in Djokovic’s direction makes any sense and former world No 1 Andy Roddick summed up the folly of those plotlines in his latest Served podcast.

“I thought it was so s****y to boo someone who’s won ten times there,” said Roddick. “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.

“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.”

Roddick was right to highlight the bizarre desire to discredit Djokovic at every opportunity, with those disappointed he will finish his career as the greatest player of all-time clearly trying to find any route possible to undermine his achievements.

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