Tennis analysts from around the world have torched Australian Open spectators for booing Serbian champion Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic, who has a record 25 grand slam titles including 10 Australian Opens, stunned the world when he retired injured after the first set during his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
But pockets of the crowd, with many paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of watching the match, were not happy with the abrupt to the match.
While most fans were left in stunned silence, there were sections of the crowd that booed the Serbian superstar.
Now the world has reacted, labelling Australian fans and their reaction as “ugly”, ‘”horrible” and “a disgrace”.
Zverev was the first to defend Djokovic, stepping up immediately after the announcement to call out people booing in the stands.
Novak Djokovic might have said goodbye to the Australian Open crowd for the final time
While the Serbian great had plenty of support in the stands, pockets of the crowd booed him
Alexander Zverev advanced to the Australian Open final after Djokovic retired hurt, and he urged the crowd not to boo the 10-time champion
‘Please, guys — don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury,’ Zverev said.
‘I know everyone paid for tickets and everybody wants to see a great five-set match. But you have to understand for the past 20 years, Novak Djokovic has given tennis absolutely everything.
‘He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue with this match, it means he really can’t continue.’
American great John McEnroe was equally shocked in commentary for Channel Nine.
‘They can’t possibly be booing him — please,’ McEnroe said.
‘He’s won this 10 times for god’s sakes. Unreal.’
English former world No 1 Sam Smith understood the reasons why fans were upset, but said booing was taking their emotions too far.
‘It was a little harsh, I have to say. But they wanted to see a show, and I get that they paid a lot of money for these tickets,’ she said. ‘But these are human beings, and sometimes their bodies break down.’
Djokovic said that he could understand the frustrations of the crowd after his retirement
Former tennis star turned analyst Justine Henin said the booing of Novak was “ugly”
Former British star Greg Rusedski was equally shocked at the booing.
‘I just do not understand the lack of respect from the crowd who booed Novak when he retired from his semi,’ he said.
‘Novak has played through so many injuries in his career and just could not do it this time. He is 37 years old and did not want to risk further injury . Smart decision.’
Former Belgian star Justine Henin said Djokovic had already endured enough in Australia without the booing.
‘Djokovic has lived in [his] best moments here but also a detention three years ago,’ she said.
‘Today, it was an ugly moment, in my opinion. We can’t accept that for a player who gave so much today, but also in the history of this sport.
‘We understand that people paid for this game, but we need to have nuance. Djokovic has very rarely abandoned a Grand Slam. He is [37] years old, he still comes here to give his best.
‘It’s not logical with the champion he is. He was right to react, it was ironic. ‘He belongs to the part of players who don’t shut up in front of this behaviour. He’s right.’
It remains unclear whether Djokovic will ever return to Australia to play tennis again
Austrian former professional tennis player turned commentator Barbara Schett was in commentary for Eurosport and could not believe her ears when the booing commenced.
‘It was horrible, we were shocked, Laura and myself, when the crowd started booing,’ Schett told Eurosport.
‘You never know in tennis, in sports, anything can happen. You can get injured, and clearly, he was that injured he couldn’t continue.
‘Yes, the tickets are expensive, but again, that’s sports. It’s not like you buy a ticket for a movie and you know this is going on for two hours and you’re going to be there from start to finish.
‘No, you could be there [at tennis] for an hour and a half only, but you could also be there for five hours and that’s the beauty about tennis, because you never know what happens.’
American tennis commentator Brad Gilbert said there was no excuse for the booing.
‘I was beyond shocked a few were booing Djoker, good for Zverev for speaking ️up. Absolutely no reason for that to have happened,’ he said.
Leading tennis journalist Jose Morgado slammed the reaction the reaction as “poor taste”.
‘This was unbelievably poor taste from the crowd tbh,’ he said.
’10 times champ who probably went on court just for the crowd to watch a bit of him. Hopefully not for the last time.
‘Don’t boo injured athletes. Doesn’t make sense, folks.’
Novak himself said he could understand the reasons why fans were upset.
‘From that perspective, I can understand. I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to understand me.’ he said.
‘I know how my body works, what I feel, and I know how much I’ve given to this tournament in the past 20 plus years. I will stop here, so that I don’t continue in the wrong direction.’
And the 10-time champion admitted he could have played his last singles match at the Australian Open.
‘I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going, but whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure,’ he said.
‘I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance.’
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