Novak Djokovic has hit back at John McEnroe and other self appointed experts amid conspiracy theories saying that he wasn't actually injured during his withdrawal from his Australian Open semi-final with Alexander Zverev.
Initially sparking fears of injury during his win over Carlos Alcaraz when he was forced to take a medical timeout, McEnroe was not convinced that Djokovic's issue was actually genuine and was done as a tactic.
"This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled," he said.
But Djokovic has hit back not that he needed to realistically with a message to these 'experts' that he was actually injured with a picture of his scan. "Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury 'experts' out there," he wrote.
He was directly quizzed on McEnroe's comments and responded with a dig aimed at the legendary American. "To be honest, I haven’t seen these comments so I can’t say more," said Djokovic. "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."
What comes next for Djokovic will be interesting. He already teased that he might not return to the Australian Open but given the potential severity of the injury, it could be a while until we see him at all. He also is unsure on Andy Murray's future as his coach.
"I don't know. There is a chance. Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes.
"I want to keep going. But whether I'm going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I'm not sure."
"I've had the biggest success in my career here. So if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come. But there's always a chance [it is the last time]."
Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury “experts” out there. pic.twitter.com/ZO5mBtw9zB
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 25, 2025
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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