"In 10 years, no one will care" – John McEnroe reacts as Novak Djokovic withdraws from Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev

Novak Djokovic's bid for an 11th Australian Open title ended after the Serbian was forced to withdraw from his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev due to an injury. It is always unfortunate to see a player pull out of a match, especially in such a prominent stage of the competition.

Djokovic struggled throughout the contest before ultimately succumbing to a muscle tear. The incident has sparked discussion, with some questioning whether this withdrawal might cast a shadow on Zverev’s potential title win. However, John McEnroe believes nobody will remember this in 10 years.

Novak Djokovic is out

Many tennis fans were excited about the highly anticipated semi-final matchup between Djokovic and Zverev. Djokovic seemed to be in fine form after defeating Carlos Alcaraz in a gruelling five-set quarter-final. However, concerns about his fitness arose as he visibly struggled with discomfort during that match.

Djokovic’s semi-final against Zverev lasted only one set, but it was a highly competitive and gruelling 81 minutes. The seventh seed saved five break points before ultimately losing the tie-break. Unfortunately, the physical toll of the match became too much for Djokovic, and he was forced to retire.

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Speaking after the match, Djokovic expressed his disappointment:

"I did everything I possibly could to manage my muscle tear," Djokovic said. "Medications, the strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today. But towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much to handle for me at the moment."

"Yeah, unfortunate ending, but I tried."

Zverev acknowledged Djokovic’s effort and reflected on the match in his post-match interview:

"I thought it was quite a high-level first set," Zverev said. "But of course, there are some difficulties, and the longer you continue playing, then maybe the worse it gets. In the tie-break, he was maybe not moving as well as in the entire first set. But I thought we had extremely long, difficult, physical rallies. I saw him struggle in the tie-break, maybe a bit more."

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John McEnroe's take

John McEnroe

John McEnroe weighed in on the situation during Channel 9's broadcast, stating that Djokovic’s retirement would not diminish Zverev’s achievements if he goes on to win the title.

"The first time I ever won a major, I got a couple of defaults, and I bet no one here, not even you two—Jelena or John—would know that," McEnroe said.

"In 10 years, if Zverev ever wins this, no one will know or care that Novak didn't play. He got through; it's not his fault. But it's a bummer because it was starting to get very interesting."

McEnroe also condemned the crowd for booing Djokovic as he left the court, pointing out the respect the Serbian deserves:

"He's won this 10 times, I mean, come on. The guy, you know, something was up. The guy's a battler. I mean, he and Rafa [Rafael Nadal] have dug deeper than any two players I've ever seen — mentally, physically, you name it," McEnroe added.

What's next for Djokovic?

Djokovic’s game is among the best the sport has ever seen, and his determination and resilience are unmatched. While this result is undoubtedly disappointing, it will be interesting to see how he bounces back in future tournaments. Fans and commentators alike will eagerly anticipate his return to the court, where he will undoubtedly aim to add more titles to his illustrious career.

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