Novak Djokovic’s recent withdrawal from the Australian Open, prompted by an injury, has raised significant concerns about the long-term impact on his career, and former world No. 1 Andy Roddick is among those expressing apprehension. Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, has now been forced to retire from two of his last four Grand Slam appearances, including last year’s French Open, which he was also forced to cut short due to injury.
This latest setback, which is expected to keep the Serbian out of action for around two months, has Roddick worried about the possibility of Djokovic facing recurring injuries as he moves closer to the twilight of his career. Despite Djokovic’s stunning victories over Tomas Machac and Carlos Alcaraz in the tournament, Roddick is concerned that maintaining his physical prowess as he nears 38 may become increasingly difficult.
On his Served podcast, Roddick discussed Djokovic’s remarkable performances in Melbourne, particularly the thrilling match against Alcaraz. “He was playing great in Australia,” Roddick shared, also praising Djokovic’s straight-sets victory over Machac. “Against Alcaraz, sets three and four were vintage Novak from a couple of years ago.”
However, Roddick noted that, despite Djokovic’s stellar form, his body has begun showing signs of wear. “He’s fought off Father Time as well as anyone in tennis history,” Roddick continued. “But last year, it was his knee at the French Open, and he battled through it to make it to the Wimbledon final. Now, we’re dealing with another injury, and I’d be surprised if we see him for a couple of months.”
Roddick expressed his concern that, as Djokovic ages, injuries may continue to plague him, creating a cycle of rehabilitation that becomes harder to break. “You get into that cycle of rehab… can your body recover? It’s tough, especially as you age,” he said. “We act surprised every time someone gets older, but rebuilding after an injury gets harder.”
The conversation then shifted to Djokovic’s controversial exit from the Australian Open, a moment that Roddick found particularly unsettling. The crowd’s reaction to Djokovic’s withdrawal from the semi-final match against Alexander Zverev, where boos were directed at the Serbian as he left the court, troubled Roddick deeply. He admitted feeling uncomfortable with the way Djokovic was treated, especially amid rumors that the injury had been exaggerated.
“I didn’t like it,” Roddick stated, reflecting on the Melbourne crowd’s hostile reaction. “Listen, you can disagree with someone, but booing them when they’re leaving the court, even if you’re unsure whether they’re genuinely hurt, just isn’t right.”
Roddick emphasized that while people might suspect Djokovic wasn’t as injured as he claimed, the possibility of him telling the truth should have been considered. “If you suspect they’re not hurt, there’s a chance they’re telling the truth, and you don’t boo,” Roddick explained.
Despite Djokovic’s well-known ability to thrive on controversy and friction, Roddick felt that respect should ultimately prevail in these situations. “He invites the friction, he thrives off it, and yes, at times, he has created controversy. But as tennis fans, respect has to come first,” Roddick asserted. “I’m not saying you have to cheer for someone you don’t like, but there’s a huge difference between not being a fan of someone and booing one of the all-time greats.”
Roddick’s words underscored the larger issue of respect in sports, especially when it comes to legends like Djokovic, whose career has spanned nearly two decades of brilliance. “You don’t know if you’re going to see them again,” Roddick said. “I didn’t like that. It made me feel icky on the inside.”
In an effort to clear up any doubts about the severity of his injury, Djokovic shared an MRI scan of his hamstring tear on social media, hoping to put to rest any speculation that he was not as injured as he had suggested. Yet, the episode left a lingering feeling of disrespect toward a player who has undoubtedly earned his place among tennis’s all-time greats.