"For him to be booed was indefensible" – Henman defends Djokovic after Australian Open exit

Novak Djokovic is arguably the best player ever to step onto a tennis court. The Serbian superstar has achieved historic success, but unlike Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, he does not always receive the same level of admiration from fans.

A prime example came during the Australian Open semi-final, where Djokovic was forced to retire due to injury. Instead of sympathy, he was met with boos from the Melbourne crowd. The reaction has sparked widespread disappointment, with former British number one Tim Henman among those criticising the lack of respect shown to Djokovic.

Djokovic continues to defy the odds at 37 years old, proving he can still compete with the very best. Heading into the Australian Open, he was aiming for a record-extending 11th title in Melbourne.

Djokovic delivered high-level performances, securing big wins, including a four-set victory over Carlos Alcaraz. With fine form behind him, many believed he was on course for another title. However, his campaign came to an abrupt end in the semi-final against Alexander Zverev when he was forced to retire after the first set due to a hamstring injury.

Instead of receiving sympathy, Djokovic was booed as he left the court, sparking outrage among players, pundits, and fans.

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Henman defends Djokovic

When it comes to tennis achievements, very few players can match Djokovic’s record. With 24 Grand Slam titles, the most weeks as world number one, and the highest number of Masters 1000 titles, his dominance in the men’s games is undeniable.

However, Henman believes that despite his accomplishments, Djokovic does not always receive the respect he deserves. Speaking on Sky Sports, Henman condemned the Australian crowd’s reaction as "indefensible".

"I think they got it completely wrong," Henman told Tennis365.

"For someone going for their 11th Australian Open title and their 25th Slam, to be the leader in the game’s history, he’s clearly in a bad way if he has pulled out after a set. For him to be booed in that moment was indefensible.

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"He doesn’t deserve to be booed off the court in the semi-finals of a Slam when he has had to retire."

Henman also commented on the polarising reaction Djokovic receives, suggesting that he has always craved the same affection as Federer and Nadal.

"I’m not on social media, but what I hear goes on with him and his fans is chaos, and maybe at times he has done things that have attracted that (negativity).

"You go a bit deeper; in my opinion, he has always craved the affection of Federer and Nadal. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know. That’s my opinion.

"Some people don’t like how he behaves sometimes, but you look at what he has achieved in the game and every statistic; he is the best in the men’s game. I find it difficult to debate that.

"He has 24 Slams, the most weeks at No 1, the most Masters 1000s, he’s got it all."

Jonathan Overend weighs in on Djokovic’s treatment

Novak Djokovic 

Journalist Jonathan Overend also spoke to Tennis365, echoing Henman’s surprise at the crowd’s reaction.

"To be booed off the court when you have been a champion there ten times over was a surprise," said Overend.

"You never like to hear it, and I don’t understand why it happened.

"Whether the fans felt they didn’t receive value for money is a spurious argument. Tennis is a curious sport that can go on for hours and hours, but they saw more in one set than you would get in many other sports between Djokovic and Zverev.

"The whole thing was quite perplexing, and I'm sure Novak came away from it all feeling pretty annoyed."

What’s next for Djokovic?

Djokovic is one of the greatest athletes to ever compete in any sport. As 2025 unfolds, it will be fascinating to see how he responds to this setback and whether he can add more titles to his already historic career.

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