- Australian Open concludes on Sunday
Novak Djokovic has fired back at a journalist for asking a ‘disrespectful question’ after pulling off a great escape in the Australian Open quarter-finals – with another tennis great branding the query ‘sh**ty’.
The 24-time major champion progressed to his 13th Open semi-final after fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt while leading two sets to love on Wednesday.
Djokovic has ridden his luck to make it to the last four while only playing 11 sets, also benefiting from his fourth-round opponent withdrawing with an abdominal issue.
But despite enjoying what fans are calling a ‘divine intervention’ against Musetti, he has been left furious with a question asked by a journalist.
The 10-time Australian Open champion bristled at the reporter’s claim he is ‘chasing’ Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to win titles, just like he chased Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
‘I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between the times when I started chasing, as you say, Rafa and Roger’, Djokovic said.
Novak Djokovic (pictured) has stood his ground and taken aim at a journalist over a question he believes was ‘disrespectful’
Djokovic slammed the reporter for skimming over his immense achievements during a question about how he fared against Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer (both pictured)
The 24-time major champion survived an almighty scare and progressed to another major semi-final after Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt on Wednesday
‘There’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams (before ‘chasing’ Alcaraz and Sinner).
‘So I think it’s important to put that in perspective. I don’t feel like I’m chasing, to be honest.’
Djokovic has since received support from his former tennis rival turned media commentator, Andy Roddick.
‘That’s just a sh**ty question,’ Roddick said on his podcast.
‘I don’t think Novak would argue with, oh, I’m chasing these two [Sinner and Alcaraz] right now.
‘But I think his point was OK, so if I’m chasing these guys [Federer and Nadal], and 1769650919 I’m chasing them [Alcaraz and Sinner], did you skip over the decade where I was the only guy being chased?’
While Djokovic was lashing out, his opponent spoke publicly about his injury heartbreak.
Musetti had outclassed the Serb in the two sets of the match and was well on the way to the biggest win of his career.
The Serbian icon has only had to play 11 sets in the tournament so far
Djokovic has received support for his passionate response to the question from old rival Andy Roddick (pictured)
Djokovic is set to do battle with Jannik Sinner (pictured) on Friday in a rematch of their 2024 tussle
But he was unable to complete the quarter-final clash, with reports suggesting he tore his hip adductor or hip flexor.
‘I have no words to describe how I’m feeling right now and how tough this injury is for me,’ Musetti told journalists.
‘Honestly, I never imagined the feeling of leading two sets to zero to Novak and playing like that and having to leave the match like that.’
Djokovic now faces two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner on Friday for a place in the final.
