Novak Djokovic admits he shared injury scan after John McEnroe’s doubts

Novak Djokovic admitted that he shared his injury scans publicly due to comments made by former world No. 1 John McEnroe, who questioned the legitimacy of Nole’s injury, which forced him to retire in the Australian Open semifinals.

The Serbian first experienced physical issues in his thigh during his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz when he was a set down. After requesting medical assistance, Djokovic managed to fight back and claim victory in four sets.

However, the injury eventually took its toll in the semifinals against Zverev, where Djokovic retired after just one set. The Serbian later posted images of his MRI scan on social media, challenging those who doubted the legitimacy of his injury—one of them being seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe.

Read also

How much can you earn in Prize Money at ATP Qatar Open 2025

In a recent interview with Sportal, Djokovic admitted he felt provoked into sharing the scan. "I was provoked by the fact that several times in a row, as I was injured in Australia in 2021, 2022, and 2023, I felt that a large group of people thought it wasn't true—that my injuries were actually some kind of provocation and strategic mental game against my opponents."

"I wouldn’t have reacted if the legends of our sport hadn’t spoken out. I think it’s okay when some things remain on social media, but when it escalates to the point where people start questioning my integrity and the credibility of what I said…"

Read also

Daily dose of Social Media: Alcaraz & Djokovic played tennis sitting on camels

"Especially when it comes from people who are legends of our sport and have a multimillion audience—that’s when I felt the need to respond and show the MRI scan. I had never done that before, but it all culminated after what happened in 2021, 2022, 2023, and now."

"Simply put, I’m fed up with these comments, and the icing on the cake was that these very important people said what they said," the 24-time Grand Slam champion concluded.

The Serbian is set to make his debut at the Qatar Open this Tuesday, facing Italian former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini.

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Unlock your ultimate tennis experience—subscribe today for exclusive access to top stories.

Subscribe