Novak Djokovic incident 'indefensible' as Tim Henman calls out 'chaos'

British tennis fable Tim Henman has offered his views connected the maltreatment Novak Djokovic suffered astatine the hands of supporters during the Australian Open past month

Tim Henman has slammed the Australian Open tennis fans who booed Novak Djokovic disconnected tribunal past month, branding their actions "indefensible".

The Serbian was forced to withdraw midway done his semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev, denying him the accidental to triumph an all-time grounds 25th Grand Slam title. Throughout the tournament, Djokovic had faced relentless jeers from spectators, and the hostility continued arsenic helium exited the Rod Laver Arena aft retiring with a hamstring injury.

Speaking to Mirror Sport, erstwhile British No. 1 Henman insisted determination was nary excuse for the crowd's behaviour, though did admit that Djokovic's on-court antics often needlessly attracted trouble. "I deliberation the fans got it wholly wrong," the 50-year-old said.

"For idiosyncratic who is going for their 11th Australian Open title, their 25th slam, to propulsion retired aft a set, he's evidently successful a atrocious way. For him to beryllium booed successful that infinitesimal is beauteous indefensible.

"However, I'm not connected societal media, but what I perceive goes connected with him and his fans, it's chaos isn't it. And determination person been times erstwhile he's astir apt attracted that. But helium perfectly doesn't merit to beryllium booed disconnected tribunal aft he's had to retire."

Henman went connected to speculate whether Djokovic's abrasive in-game demeanour stemmed from his tendency to person the aforesaid level of admiration that Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal effortlessly command. "I deliberation if you excavation a spot deeper, successful my opinion, he's ever craved the affection that's been shown to Federer and Nadal," helium said.

"And immoderate radical I conjecture don't similar that, that helium behaves successful that way. But that full happening isn't truly my scene. You look astatine what he's achieved, you look astatine astir each stat and he's the champion successful each of them. He's phenomenal."

Djokovic, 37, has ever had a analyzable narration with tennis fans. His relentless competitiveness, unbreakable self-confidence, and fiery on-court cognition person earned him some loyal supporters and vocal critics implicit the years.

Many laud him for his steely determination and unwavering warring spirit, though others are enactment disconnected by his brash assertiveness, peculiarly erstwhile comparing him to Federer and Nadal, who were typically much self-effacing on-court than the Serb.

Things escalated successful January 2022 erstwhile Djokovic was deported from Australia owed to the information helium hadn't been vaccinated against Covid-19. Despite initially receiving an exemption from the Australian government, allowing him to vie successful that year's Australian Open, nationalist unit yet forced a U-turn and, subsequently, Djokovic's deportation.

In the months that followed, Djokovic's unwavering stance connected the contented solidified his estimation arsenic a polarising figure, some successful sporting and governmental terms. The Belgrade autochthonal explained that helium wasn't 'anti-vaccination' but that helium staunchly defended the close to bodily autonomy, and was prepared to springiness up his tennis vocation to bash so.

Nonetheless, his stance lone amplified his critics, which successful crook seems to person fuelled Djokovic's progressively defiant behaviour during matches. Now, astir everyplace helium plays, the 24-time Grand Slam champion is formed arsenic the villain – a relation helium has, astatine times, embraced willingly.

Djokovic's withdrawal from past month's Australian Open means he's present gone 16 months without winning a large rubric – his longest drought 2018. He needs to triumph conscionable 1 much Grand Slam to determination supra Margaret Court and cement himself arsenic the astir statistically palmy tennis subordinate of each time. But with injuries piling up, Father Time dilatory catching up to him, and the contention astir him increasing stronger, 2025 whitethorn beryllium a lawsuit of present oregon never.

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