Andy Roddick didn’t think it was fair for Novak Djokovic to receive boos from the Australian Open as the American highlighted it wouldn’t be right at all it was the last memory of the Serb at Melbourne Park.
After struggling with a left leg injury going into the semifinal day, the world No. 7 retired against Alexander Zverev after one set that lasted an hour and 21 minutes.
While some would think that the crowd would have some understanding for the situation, the reality was completely different as they booed the record 10-time Australian Open champion off the court.
Novak Djokovic© Australian Open/X Fair Use
Later in his presser, Djokovic indicated that it may have been his appearance at Melbourne Park.
“I thought it was so s—– to boo someone who’s won ten times there. Someone who you don’t know if they are going to come back,” the 2003 US Open winner said on the Served with Andy Roddick.
“It would suck if Novak’s last memory in a place where we have seen excellence from him to the point where we probably take it too much for granted to be getting booed off the court. That sucks man.”
Roddick: It’s OK to disagree but we can’t be petty when someone is hurt
After the retirement, Djokovic shared that his exact injury was a muscle tear and that he did everything possible – from physio treatment to medication – to be able to play.
But after he started to feel pain toward the end of the first set against Zverev that was only getting worse, the 37-year-old accepted that there was no way he could continue.
“Maybe we disagree with some stuff, that’s fine, but we have to appreciate excellence. We have to appreciate history. We can’t be petty when someone is hurt,” Roddick noted.
On his podcast, the American tennis legend also underlined that no one wanted more than Djokovic to finish the match.
Also, Roddick acknowledged that in the past, the Serb twice won the Australian Open while injured.
Tennis World USA