Home Australia Australian Open fans are labelled ugly, horrible and ‘a disgrace’ as the world reacts to Novak Djokovic being booed off court

Australian Open fans are labelled ugly, horrible and ‘a disgrace’ as the world reacts to Novak Djokovic being booed off court

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Novak Djokovic could have said goodbye to the Australian Open crowd for the last time

Tennis analysts around the world have fired up Australian Open spectators for booing Serbian champion Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic, who has a record 25 Grand Slam titles, including 10 Australian starts, shocked the world when he retired hurt after the first set during his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

But the pockets of the crowd, with many paying thousands of dollars for the privilege of watching the game, were not happy with the abrupt call to the game.

While most fans were left in stunned silence, there were sections of the crowd that booed the Serbian superstar.

Now the world has reacted, labeling the Australian fans and their reaction as “ugly”, “horrible” and “a disgrace”.

Zverev was the first to defend Djokovic, stepping forward immediately after the announcement to call out the booing people in the stands.

Novak Djokovic could have said goodbye to the Australian Open crowd for the last time

While the Great Serb had plenty of support in the stands, pockets of the crowd booed him

While the Great Serb had plenty of support in the stands, pockets of the crowd booed him

Alexander Zverev advanced to Australian Open final after Djokovic withdrew from Hurt, urging crowd not to boo 10-time champion

Alexander Zverev advanced to Australian Open final after Djokovic withdrew from Hurt, urging crowd not to boo 10-time champion

“Please, guys, don’t boo a player when he comes out with an injury,” Zverev said.

‘I know everyone paid for the tickets and everyone wants to see a great five-set match. But you have to understand over the last 20 years, Novak Djokovic has given tennis absolutely everything.

‘He won this tournament with an abdominal tear, a hamstring tear. If you can’t continue this match, it means you really can’t continue.

American great John McEnroe was equally surprised in Channel Nine’s comments.

“You can’t be booing him, please,” McEnroe said.

‘He’s won this 10 times for God’s sake. Unreal.’

In English, former world No. 1 Sam Smith understood the reasons why fans were upset, but said Booing was taking his emotions too far.

‘It was a bit tough, I have to say. But they wanted to see a show, and I understand they paid a lot of money for these tickets,’ he said. “But these are human beings, and sometimes their bodies break.”

Djokovic said he could understand the crowd's frustrations after his retirement

Djokovic said he could understand the crowd’s frustrations after his retirement

Former tennis star turned analyst Justine Henin said Novak's booing was "ugly"

Former tennis star turned analyst Justine Henin said Novak’s boo was ‘ugly’

Former British star Greg Rusedski was equally surprised by the booing.

“I just don’t understand the lack of respect from the crowd that booed Novak when he walked out of his semi,” he said.

‘Novak has dealt with so many injuries in his career and he just couldn’t do it this time. He is 37 years old and did not want to risk more injuries. Smart decision.

Former Belgian star Justine Henin said Djokovic had suffered enough in Australia without the booing.

“Djokovic has experienced (his) best moments here, but also an arrest three years ago,” he said.

‘Today, it was an ugly moment, in my opinion. We cannot 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 be nuanced. Djokovic has rarely abandoned a Grand Slam. He is (37) years old, he still comes here to do his best.

‘It is not logical with the champion he is. He was right to react, it was ironic. ‘He belongs to the part of the players who do not remain silent in the face of this behavior. You are right.

It is unclear if Djokovic will return to Australia to play tennis again

It is unclear if Djokovic will return to Australia to play tennis again

Former Austrian professional tennis player turned commentator Barbara Schett was on commentary for Eurosport and couldn’t believe her ears when the booing started.

“It was horrible, it shocked Laura and I, when the crowd started booing,” Schett told EuroSport.

‘You never know in tennis, in sports, anything can happen. He can get hurt, and clearly, he was so hurt that he couldn’t continue.

‘Yes, tickets are expensive, but then again, that’s sports. It’s not like I buy a ticket to a movie and you know this thing happens for two hours and you’re going to be there from start to finish.

“No, you could only be there (in tennis) for an hour and a half, but you could also be there for five hours and that’s the beauty of tennis, because you never know what happens.”

American tennis commentator Brad Gilbert said there was no excuse for the booing.

‘I was more than surprised that some were booing, good for Zverev for speaking out. Absolutely no reason for that to have happened,’ he said.

Leading tennis journalist José Morgado dismissed the reaction as “bad taste.”

“This was incredibly poor taste from the crowd TBH,” he said.

’10-time champion who probably went to court just to let the crowd see him a little. Hopefully not for the last time.

‘Don’t boo injured athletes. It doesn’t make sense, friends.

Novak himself said he could understand the reasons why fans were upset.

‘From that perspective, I can understand. I’m trying my best to understand them, but I’m not sure if they understand me or if they even want to understand me. said.

‘I know how my body works, what I feel, and I know how much I have given to this tournament in the last 20-plus years. I’ll stop here, so you 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 move forward, but whether or not I’m going to have a revised schedule for next year, I’m not sure,” he said.

Normally I like to come to Australia to play. I have had the most 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 is always an opportunity.

(Tagstotranslate) DailyMail (T) Sport (T) Tennis (T) Alexander Zverev (T) Novak Djokovic

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