Martina Navratilova unloaded on the Australian Open crowd, slamming their therapy of Novak Djokovic as “disgusting.”
Moments after retiring injured from his semifinal match towards Alexander Zverev at Melbourne, the event’s document 10-time champion was booed off the courtroom.
The scene shortly went viral and lots of weren’t that impressed with the gang’s act, particularly figuring out that the 37-year-old battled an harm going into the match and there have been even doubts if he would be capable to play.
And Navratilova – a former three-time Australian Open winner and one of many best ever – could not imagine what she was seeing.
“What I’m really upset about is the crowd booing Novak. Seriously? Nobody wanted to finish that match more than Novak. Nobody. And then they boo. I mean seriously, it’s just disgusting,” the previous 18-time Grand Slam champion stated on Tennis Channel.
Djokovic’s response to the boos
On Friday, followers noticed an hour and 21 minutes of motion as Zverev gained a marathon first set 7-6 (5).
When requested in his presser to deal with the boos, the Serbian tennis star stated he might perceive the spectators from the angle that they paid their cash and wished to see a full match.
“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,” Djokovic said.
Novak Djokovic© Australian Open/YouTube
After making that clear, the world No. 7 pretty much said that the crowd probably had zero understanding for him.
“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 (speaking) in the wrong direction,” he added, with a wry smile,” he stated.
Shortly after the match, Djokovic additionally withdrew from subsequent week’s Davis Cup tie towards Denmark.