Novak Djokovic Responds to Injury Critics with MRI Scan After Australian Open Walkover
27 days ago | 5 Views
Novak Djokovic's 2025 Australian Open campaign came to a heartbreaking halt when the 24-time Grand Slam champion was forced to retire midway through his semifinal against Alexander Zverev. Djokovic, who suffered a muscle tear during the first-set tiebreaker, was unable to continue, leaving fans at Rod Laver Arena disappointed.
However, the situation took an unexpected turn when Djokovic was met with boos as he left the court, triggering a debate within the tennis community.
In response to the criticism, Djokovic hit back powerfully. On his official X (formerly Twitter) account, he posted an image of his MRI scan, clearly showing the extent of the muscle tear. Alongside the image, he wrote, “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there.”
While many questioned the seriousness of Djokovic’s injury, tennis legend John McEnroe also joined the ranks of skeptics. During the quarter-final between Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz, McEnroe remarked, “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled.”
Despite the doubts, Djokovic remained calm when asked about McEnroe's comments. “To be honest, I haven’t seen these comments, so I can’t say more,” Djokovic said. “What I can say is that it’s always easier to judge and criticize than to understand. It’s a lesson I’ve learned in life.”
However, McEnroe later expressed strong support for Djokovic after he was booed following his walkover. "They can't possibly be booing him. Please!" McEnroe said on Channel 9. "He's won this 10 times, for god's sakes. Unreal."
Djokovic’s opponent, Alexander Zverev, also condemned the crowd's reaction, calling for fans to show more respect to players dealing with injuries.
“Please, guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury. I know that everybody paid for tickets and everyone wants to see a great match, but you’ve got to understand: Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport everything for the past 20 years,” Zverev stated.
For Djokovic, the dream of securing a 25th Grand Slam title remains unfulfilled—for now. At 37, time is ticking on his legendary career, but the Serbian remains determined to come back strong in future tournaments.
Meanwhile, Zverev will now aim for his first Grand Slam title as he prepares to face Jannik Sinner in the final.
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