Tennis legend John McEnroe defends Novak Djokovic after the 10-time winner is booed following his injury withdrawal from the Australian Open

John McEnroe has strongly condemned the Australian Open crowd for booing Novak Djokovic following his injury-related withdrawal from the match against Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old, a 10-time tournament winner, was enduring pain from a muscle injury sustained during his earlier victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

After losing the first set to Zverev, Djokovic made the difficult decision to quit, much to the disappointment of the spectators. The crowd’s reaction—booing the tennis legend as he left the court—sparked outrage, with McEnroe expressing his disbelief.

“They can’t possibly be booing him. Please! He’s won this 10 times,” McEnroe said during his commentary for Australia’s Nine network. “The guy is a battler. He and Rafa [Nadal] have dug deeper than any two players I have seen.”

McEnroe, who has long been a vocal supporter of Djokovic, described the booing as “absolutely ludicrous” and called out the crowd’s lack of respect.

Former Australian Open star John Millman also shared his disappointment, stating, “Some of the behaviour has crossed the line… He’s definitely the greatest on this court.” Millman insisted that regardless of how much ticket-holders paid, Djokovic deserved respect.

With Djokovic’s exit, Zverev moved on to the final of the Australian Open, but the backlash over the crowd’s behaviour continues to reverberate across the tennis world.

The controversy surrounding Djokovic’s withdrawal has also sparked wider discussions about sportsmanship and crowd behaviour. Many former and current players have voiced their concerns about the treatment of athletes in high-pressure environments. McEnroe, known for his own fiery interactions with crowds, suggested that the incident is a reminder that respect for players, especially legends like Djokovic, should take precedence over immediate emotional reactions.

As the tournament continues, the backlash from Djokovic’s withdrawal incident has led to further scrutiny of the Australian Open’s crowd culture. While some fans defend the crowd’s reaction as frustration over the loss of a star player, others argue that such behaviour is detrimental to the spirit of the sport. The tennis community is now calling for more emphasis on fostering positive interactions between players and audiences at major events.