Novak Djokovic got one over John McEnroe after conspiracy theory claim | Tennis | Sport

Novak Djokovic took a swipe at John McEnroe when an injury conspiracy theory surfaced following his Australian Open exit last year. The Serbian was forced to pull out of the tournament midway through his semi-final clash with Alexander Zverev due to a muscle injury sustained during his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

In the aftermath, scepticism spread among fans and pundits alike, with McEnroe casting doubt during commentary by saying: “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled.” Djokovic, however, quickly moved to silence the doubters, posting an image of an MRI scan showing a torn leg muscle on social media, accompanied by the caption: “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there.”

Earlier, when McEnroe’s remarks were put to him, the 24-time Grand Slam champion responded with a thinly veiled jab at the former American great. “To be honest, I haven’t seen these comments so I can’t say more,” said Djokovic. “What I can say is that it’s always easier to judge and criticise than to understand. It’s a lesson I’ve learned in life.”

Djokovic’s injury was genuine. He spent the next three weeks on the treatment table before returning to action at the Qatar Open in February, though he did not record a win until the Miami Open in late March.

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By that point, Djokovic had gone an entire calendar year without a Grand Slam title – only the second time that had happened since 2010. A dip in form, coupled with ongoing injury concerns, fuelled speculation about an impending retirement, rumours the then 37-year-old did little to dampen following his exit in Melbourne.

“I don’t know [if that was my final match at the Australian Open]. There is a chance. Who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes,” he said. “I want to keep going, but whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure. I normally like to come to Australia to play.

“I’ve had the biggest 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’s always a chance [it is the last time].”

As it happened, 2025 came and went without a major title, with Djokovic falling at the semi-final stage of every Grand Slam. Now, attention turns to 2026, where one more Slam victory would see him stand alone as the most successful player in tennis history.

Djokovic has made an encouraging start at the 2026 Australian Open, reaching the fourth round without dropping a set. He next faces Jakub Mensik for a place in the quarter-finals, and Melbourne Park – where he has lifted the trophy a record 10 times – may represent his best opportunity to secure elusive major No. 25.

The path, however, is far from straightforward. Given the draw, Djokovic is likely to need victories over both Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz to claim the title. He has lost his last five meetings with Sinner, including their clash at the Australian Open in 2024, while Alcaraz holds the upper hand in their most recent encounter after beating the Serb at the US Open last September.

Time will tell whether Djokovic can once again defy the odds and summon one final Melbourne masterpiece – or whether the world’s best players have permanently moved beyond his reach.