Novak Djokovic has hit back strongly at critics, including tennis legend John McEnroe, who questioned the legitimacy of his injury during the 2025 Australian Open.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion sustained a left leg injury early in his quarter-final clash against Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne. During the first set, Djokovic had his left thigh taped after a medical timeout and admitted post-match that he had taken two doses of medication to help him push through the pain. Despite battling discomfort, the Serb fought on, but his movement was noticeably affected, and he struggled through much of the second set, grimacing with each step.
However, Djokovic, being the relentless competitor he is, shifted gears and adopted a more aggressive playing style to win the second set. As the match wore on, his movement seemed to improve, and he ultimately secured a remarkable four-set victory.
McEnroe, providing commentary for ESPN, questioned Djokovic’s injury, suggesting that it was part of a familiar routine. “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled,” the seven-time Grand Slam champion remarked.
Such claims, however, quickly seemed absurd after Djokovic was forced to retire during his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev due to the same injury. Despite this, some sections of the crowd booed him as he left the court. McEnroe, defending his fellow champion, condemned the reaction, especially considering Djokovic’s past achievements. “He’s won this thing ten times, so come on. Something was clearly up,” McEnroe told Channel 9. “He’s a battler. Him and Rafa [Nadal] have dug deeper than anyone I’ve ever seen mentally and physically. To do that, to pull out after everything he’s done here, was absolutely ludicrous. That was depressing.”
Djokovic, in response, posted an MRI scan of his left leg on social media, directly addressing his critics. “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there,” he wrote, making it clear that his injury was real.
During his post-match press conference after his retirement against Zverev, Djokovic provided more details about his condition. He revealed that he hadn’t hit a ball since his intense quarter-final clash with Alcaraz and only began hitting again an hour before his semi-final match. “I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear I had,” Djokovic explained. “Medications, the strap, and physio work helped to some extent, but by the end of the first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It became too much to handle.”
Reflecting on his injury management over the years, Djokovic shared that while he had dealt with similar injuries in the past, this one was particularly troublesome. “It’s a muscle tear. Two years ago, I managed it better. On the court, it didn’t bother me as much, but this time, it wasn’t the case,” he admitted. “I had an extra day off, so I thought it would be good enough to recover. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case.”
For a player of Djokovic’s stature—who has delivered countless unforgettable performances throughout his career—it’s hard to understand why he’d need to defend the authenticity of his injuries. Still, he made it clear: he’s doing his best to recover and continue competing at the highest level, even when faced with adversity.