Rafael Nadal’s uncle and former coach, Toni, has questioned the authenticity of Novak Djokovic’s thigh injury that forced the former world No 1 to retire mid-way through his semi-final at the Australian Open.
During his explosive column, the spanish tennis coach, 63, who stepped away from working as Felix Auger-Aliassime’s coach last year, had added that Djokovic deserved greater respect from fans who had booed him.
Fans had become irritated that his semi-final against Alexander Zverev had come to an abrupt early ending after just an hour and 22 minutes of play, with some having paid more than $360 for a ticket to watch the 10-time Australian Open champion.
Djokovic had appeared to sustain the injury during his epic quarter-final comeback victory against Carlos Alcaraz but question marks had revolved over his fitness in the days prior to Friday’s semi-final.
While it is possible he had practised off-site, he had appeared to give his injury a few days rest ahead of his encounter with Zverev.
But during his match against Alcaraz, the 37-year-old had faced questions over the veracity of his hamstring injury, with Toni Nadal chiming in on the matter to state that the move has ‘fostered suspicion’.
Ragael Nadal’s uncle, Toni (right), has stated that there has been ‘a growing suspicion’ around Novak Djokovic’s injury problems
Djokovic retired from his semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev on Friday, due to a hamstring tear
The Serbian (right) copped boos from fans inside the Rod Laver Arena, but while he raised eyebrows over the injury, Toni Nadal said Djokovic deserved respect
‘I personally feel that he deserves respect at the difficult moment, without a doubt, of having to leave the court that has seen him win so many times,’ the former tennis coach wrote in his column for El Pais.
‘I understand that the public showed their disappointment and anger at being deprived of the spectacle they had been waiting for after having paid for it. But the second reason, and probably the most important, is that over the years, a certain suspicion has been fostered around Novak, due to his grimaces or histrionics, which has sown doubts about the veracity of his injuries.
‘On this occasion, suspicions began to arise in his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz. After losing the first set and with obvious signs of pain, the Serbian gave his opponent and the public in general to understand that he would hardly be able to continue his match. But the reality was that not only did he face the rest of the match with total normality, but he ended up winning it.
He noted that against Zverev he had not looked in that much pain during the first set.
‘On more than one occasion we have seen Novak with similar performances, with facial gestures and body language that contradict what we are seeing on the court and that cast doubt on the authenticity of his problems.’
Nadal would go on to explain that he had felt sympathy for the 24-time Grand Slam champion after he had been booed by spectators inside the Rod Laver Arena.
‘I can imagine how hard it must have been for him to have to accept such an adverse reaction from the public. If it is already difficult to accept that one cannot continue fighting, it must be much more difficult if this is accompanied by the public’s lack of understanding.
‘I hope that the Serbian recovers well and that we can continue to admire his incredible game throughout the rest of the year, but also that he succeeds in transmitting to the public the confidence that a champion of his immense stature should have more than earned.’
Nadal later went on to wish the 24-time Grand Slam champion a speedy recovery, despite raising eyebrows at Djokovic’s past injuries
Djokovic, though, has lashed out at his critics, posting a scan of his hamstring onnline which showed the extent of the damage to his leg
It comes as McEnroe was not convinced over Djokovic’s injury woe either during his match against Carlos Alcaraz.
‘This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled,’ the seven-time Grand Slam champion remarked to Channel 9 during his match against Zverev.
McEnroe had later condemned the boos Djokovic had received during his match against Zverev but many fans agreed with his scepticism around the Serbian’s injury.
Some fans took to social media to agree with McEnroe’s comments.
‘Djokovic moving like prime 2011 after faking an injury. Not surprised,’ posted one X user.
‘Novak Djokovic faking injuries every time he’s losing and the player has momentum,’ posted another.
In retaliation to the speculation around his injury, the Serbian lashed out at his critics on social media, posting a screenshot of an MRI scan of his upper thigh on social media.
Djokovic wrote on X: ‘Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there.’
Djokovic had appeared to sustain the injury during his gripping quarter-finals clash against Carlos Alcaraz
He later would go on to reveal that he had suffered a hamstring tear during a press conference
He did not give a timeframe on when he could return to action, adding that he needed ‘to examine the injury further’
The scan appeared to show the damage he had sustained to his hamstring, with the Serbian stating after the match that he had sustained a muscle tear.
‘It’s not the first time that I have encountered these kind of circumstances,’ he said during his post-match press conference.
‘It is what it is. You know, injury is the biggest enemy of a professional athlete. In the past, I managed certain injuries, like the one you mentioned, a few years ago that to some extent even helped me play better and win the tournament.
‘But, yeah, it wasn’t to be this time. That’s okay. You know, I cannot throw away all the incredible memories and results and achievements that I’ve achieved here over the years just because this year, you know, I retired in the semifinals.
‘I still, of course, now freshly off the court, am disappointed and upset. But at the same time, Australia always will stay in my head, in my heart, as the best slam that I’ve ever played and ever performed on. Yeah, look, when you are on the court, it’s adrenaline.
He added: ‘I have to examine more this injury. You know, when I go back home now to Europe, I will get together with the medical team and my physios and try to understand, yeah, what we can do and the quickest way to recover and get back on track.’
It is not the first time some have raised questions over the 37-year-old’s use of medical timeouts, with former world No 8 John Alexander claiming some questions revolved over Djokovic’s use of injury timeouts.
‘The injury timeouts — if there is a question mark over his greatness in his entire career, it’s the way he has, in many people’s minds, strategically used injury timeouts,’ Alexander told the ABC podcast last year following a straight sets defeat by Alex de Minaur at the United Cup.