Tennis legend John McEnroe has stirred up controversy with comments during his commentary, suggesting that Novak Djokovic may have been “fooling” Carlos Alcaraz with his injury at the 2025 Australian Open. Djokovic shocked the tennis world during the first set of his quarterfinal clash with Alcaraz by clutching at his left leg after a return, appearing to be in pain. The 37-year-old briefly left the court for treatment, but upon his return, he moved freely and played aggressively, leaving Alcaraz visibly frustrated.
Alcaraz, who seemed baffled by Djokovic’s sudden improvement, couldn’t capitalize on the injury scare and ultimately lost 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4. However, McEnroe wasn’t convinced by Djokovic’s apparent injury, warning viewers not to be “fooled” by Djokovic’s actions. “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled,” McEnroe commented during ESPN America’s broadcast. While McEnroe acknowledged that Djokovic could have been dealing with an injury, he also suggested the Serbian would likely play through it and continue lifting his game, which Djokovic did by adjusting his strategy and taking control of the match.
Djokovic’s history of playing through injuries and still winning titles resurfaced in the aftermath of the match, with many recalling a similar incident in 2023 when Alex de Minaur questioned Djokovic’s hamstring injury. Despite concerns over his fitness at the time, Djokovic went on to defeat both Grigor Dimitrov and de Minaur in straight sets. De Minaur, like Alcaraz, had been surprised by Djokovic’s seemingly swift recovery. Reflecting on the match, de Minaur said, “I thought he was moving pretty well, so… I don’t know.”
After his quarterfinal victory over Alcaraz, Djokovic admitted he had doubted whether he could finish the match due to the injury but emphasized the epic nature of the battle. “One of the most epic matches I have played on this court, or any court really,” Djokovic remarked. “If I lost the second set, I don’t know if I would have continued playing.”
During the match against Djokovic, Alcaraz himself raised eyebrows with his own display of apparent discomfort. At one point, the Spaniard seemed to mimic Djokovic’s earlier hobbling, grabbing the back of his leg near where Djokovic was seated, which led some to suggest he was mocking his opponent. Former player and commentator James Blake commented that Alcaraz might have been engaging in gamesmanship of his own, saying, “He’s obviously fine. Just acting like he’s got an injury. He’s being Novak.”
Despite the speculation, Alcaraz admitted post-match that he was unsure what to make of Djokovic’s physical state. “I think everybody saw in the second set he was struggling to move,” Alcaraz said. “But in the third and fourth sets, he was really good.”
As Djokovic continues his quest for another Australian Open title, his resilience and ability to overcome injuries remain a talking point, with some questioning just how much his physical setbacks have truly affected his performance.
