John McEnroe calls out Djokovic [!]

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
What is this up with this sudden agenda they seem to have against Djokovic? It's like they are actively trying to get the public to hate him.

... he's not wrong though
 

Crocodile

G.O.A.T.
So you throw the first set so you can get bandaged and then change your game and try and win in 4 or 5 - and Monroe thinks it’s a fake ? I think he is just geeing people up,
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
Alcaraz is not a mug. Already one of the GOATs. Alcaraz will always play 100% regardless of any attempted fakery by The Djoker.
There is absolutely nothing to be gained by faking an injury against Alcaraz.
Please dunderheads. Just stop it. :rolleyes:
 

Zardoz7/12

Hall of Fame
Djokovic told Courier he had a leg injury, took a MTO, took painkillers and then took another dose later on, he said he could have retired if he lost the 2nd set.

Question is does Djokovic play possum? He has over the years there is no doubt.
 

Terenigma

G.O.A.T.
if he’s not wrong then there is no agenda ;)

Fair point. I just feel like a few of the commentators lately have openly said something negative about him, some more obvious than others but it feels like they've all got a memo to like hype up Sinner/Alcaraz and downplay Djokovic. Y'know? You're right though, He said what we're all thinking.
 

Alcawrath

Professional
I think if all cards are on the table, Novak tweaked something trying to get out of the corner, got wrapped and took a pain killer because he was feeling legitimate pain, and was back to 100% by set three when the adrenaline and the meds took over. Djoko will have a little break now and will be fine for Zverev. There's no way he has a serious injury the way he was moving on the final two sets of his match beating Alcaraz.
 

TheFifthSet

Legend
It’s hilarious how stupid tennis fans are on this stuff. I guess a lot of them have never seen American football but those guys out there playing with broken bones and ripped up tendons but tennis fans think it’s impossible to play on niggling injuries. So bizarre.

Just a couple of days ago, Umar Nurmagomedov lost a close decision to one of the best fighters on earth after breaking his hand in the first round.
 

weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
It’s hilarious how stupid tennis fans are on this stuff. I guess a lot of them have never seen American football but those guys out there playing with broken bones and ripped up tendons but tennis fans think it’s impossible to play on niggling injuries. So bizarre.

John McEnroe is a fan lol?
 
Still don't know how he pulled it off. Hung on by a thread in the fourth set.
If it went to 5 sets, the young Alcaraz is almost certainly a 90% favourite to win the match.
Both guys came out with credit, just a shame they not the same era as i love their matches. I think the key was the Djokovic serve to Alcaraz FH as there is a weakness on return there that Carlos needs to work on moving forward. His take back is too long.
 

objection_

Semi-Pro
Novak was injured here and was clearly hampered for a set and a half. Problem is alcaraz suffered a traumatic brain injury at the same time and forgot how to aim for the lines.
 

Turning Pro

Hall of Fame
Alcaraz is not a mug. Already one of the GOATs. Alcaraz will always play 100% regardless of any attempted fakery by The Djoker.
There is absolutely nothing to be gained by faking an injury against Alcaraz.
Please dunderheads. Just stop it. :rolleyes:

It's called throwing a person off with a momentum shift, making the other players muscles cold, waiting around, getting massages and painkillers etc.

Very dirty, underhanded lowlife tactics.

Same as Ao 2021 and 2023 Ao and TONS of other occasions in other slams i can't even keep count.
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
Both guys came out with credit, just a shame they not the same era as i love their matches. I think the key was the Djokovic serve to Alcaraz FH as there is a weakness on return there that Carlos needs to work on moving forward. His take back is too long.

Another key was The Djoker's return of serve. Alcaraz was serving well but Djoker still put pressure on his service games.
A Master Class in returning from the GOAT returner.
 

Arvid

Semi-Pro
Well its funny how these injury timeouts always seem to play into Djoks hands. Throws of the opponent with irratic play and doesnt know what to expekt. Whether the injurys and timeouts that always come timely are real or not hes definately worked out a way of using it to hes advantage....thats what Mac knew after having witnessed it so many times.....
 
It's called throwing a person off with a momentum shift, making the other players muscles cold, waiting around, getting massages and painkillers etc.

Very dirty, underhanded lowlife tactics.

Same as Ao 2021 and 2023 Ao and TONS of other occasions in other slams i can't even keep count.
Alcaraz is 21. If his muscles cannot adapt then he is not going to have a long career.Trust me this is a non issue. Alcaraz will not even raise it unless asked at the presser and if he is he will say it was irreelvant.
 

Better_Call_Raul

Hall of Fame
It's called throwing a person off with a momentum shift, making the other players muscles cold, waiting around, getting massages and painkillers etc.

Very dirty, underhanded lowlife tactics.

Same as Ao 2021 and 2023 Ao and TONS of other occasions in other slams i can't even keep count.

The Djoker was clearly grimacing in pain and limping. Thought he was gonna retire. He took the painkillers.
Says he will have to evaluate the injury tomorrow morning when the painkillers wear off.
Even if he was faking, it did not throw off Alcaraz. It did not affect the match.
Players are free to run around during the MTO. Stretch. Rally. Meditate.
A smart opponent uses the MTO delay to their advantage.
 
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weakera

Talk Tennis Guru
No, and I don’t think Guru’s comment is necessarily even directed at Mac personally, but I would say he’s something like the Joe Morgan of tennis: genius as a player, bumbling moron in the commentary booth.

No arguments here, but then a blind squirrel does, occasionally, find a nut, and the same can apply to fans.
 

TheFifthSet

Legend
It's called throwing a person off with a momentum shift, making the other players muscles cold, waiting around, getting massages and painkillers etc.

Very dirty, underhanded lowlife tactics.

Same as Ao 2021 and 2023 Ao and TONS of other occasions in other slams i can't even keep count.

Djokodal fans recreating the Spider-Man Pointing meme again.
 

vokazu

Legend

Holy moly... will McEnroe need to apologize to return to broadcasts?

The MRI scan result has just come out:

images-4.jpg


Screenshot-20250122-002557-Chrome-Beta.jpg
 
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Arak

Legend
The fake MTOs have always worked for Djokovic. Some people complain a bit after the match but he has never been in trouble due to that. No reason to stop doing them. Not the ultimate sportsmanship but at the end, a win is a win.
 
Well, not exactly on the topic, but today may not be the best one to throw stones.
 

jeroenn

Professional
The Djoker was clearly grimacing in pain and limping. Thought he was gonna retire. He took the painkillers.

Yes, we'll forward his name for an Oscar nomination.

Come on now, this behaviour is like clockwork. Nothing new, seen it many times before. Have an itch and act like it's a full blown traumatic amputation, only to jump around like a rabbid rabbit.
 

NYTennisfan

Hall of Fame
I mean, he's speaking the truth. Djokovic has used this "gamesmanship" many times. Johnny Mac is just being the straight shooter that he's always been which might rub some people the wrong way but it doesn't make it any less true.
 
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