Rafael Nadal’s uncle and coach of nearly three decades has become the latest to question the legitimacy of Novak Djokovic’s hamstring injury that saw him withdraw from his Australian Open semi final, and defend the crowds that booed him.
In a column in Spanish for El Pais, Toni Nadal questioned why Djokovic didn’t at least take a medical time out in an effort to prolong the match before quitting.
Djokovic’s retirement drew boos and jeers from the Rod Laver Arena crowd, who had paid upwards of $400 for a ticket into the venue.
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“I believe that a great champion like the Serbian, someone who has contributed to the most sublime pages in the history of tennis, should not leave any court in this way and, even less so Rod Laver Arena, where he holds the record for victories and titles,” Nadal opined.
He said for the same reason, the booing Djokovic received was also wrong.
Novak Djokovic (left) and Rafael Nadal. Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images
“Respect … is well deserved in the difficult moment, leaving the court that has seen him win so many times.
“I understand that the public showed their disappointment and anger at being deprived of the expected spectacle after having paid an entrance fee for it.”
But he went on to suggest the 10-time Australian Open champion’s history of playing through injury was one of “histrionics”.
“Over the years, a certain suspicion has been fostered around Novak, due to his grimaces or histrionics, which has sown doubts about the veracity of his injuries,” he wrote.
Novak Djokovic leaving Rod Laver Arena after retiring from his semi final against Alexander Zverev. Getty
“Suspicions began in his quarter-final match against Carlos Alcaraz. After losing the first set, and with obvious gestures of pain, the Serbian made it clear to his opponent and the general public he would hardly be able to continue his match.
“But the reality was he not only faced the rest of the match with total normality, but he even ended up winning it.
“Against Zverev, he played the entire first set with apparent normality and without visible signs of pain until he decided to abandon it just after the German won the first set.”
In his post-match press conference, Djokovic said he was “hot headed” and “upset” by the worsening hamstring tear, and that he’d done “everything he possibly could” to manage the pain.
He went on to say he would’ve considered battling on had he won the first set, but the pain was “just getting worse and worse”.
On Saturday night, he went so far as to post a picture of an MRI taken of the injured hamstring in an attempt to silence the sceptics.
But Nadal said Djokovic should have at least taken a time out before pulling the pin.
“When a player faces physical problems in a match of this nature, he normally waits until the end to decide to retire,” he continued.
“He calls the physiotherapist, plays some games impaired and, only when he sees the inevitable fate, does he decide to retire.
“On more than one occasion we have seen Novak with similar performances, with facial gestures and body language that contradict what we are seeing on the court, and that sow certain doubts about the authenticity of his problems.”
Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said after the 2023 event that Djokovic had won his 10th Melbourne Park crown with a 3cm tear in his hamstring, although the claim was heavily disputed among by athletes and medical experts.
Toni Nadal coached Rafael from his childhood until 2017, in which time Rafa won 10 of his 14 Roland-Garros titles, as well as an Australian Open, two Wimbledons, three US Open titles and an Olympic gold medal.
He also spent three years working with Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime.
