Furious tennis fans are calling for a tennis great to be removed from commentary during the Australian Open after his shocking comment about 10-time champion Novak Djokovic.
Djokovic stormed through the first round in his quest for a record 11th crown at Melbourne Park on Monday night.
Hard-running Spanish scrapper Pedro Martinez loomed as an opponent who could drag out Monday night’s first-round clash at Rod Laver Arena.
A scintillating Djokovic was having none of it, pulling out all his tricks with a combination of precision and power to claim a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory, his 100th at the Aussie Grand Slam.
But a statement from former Australian Open semi-finalist Wally Masur in commentary has left fans furious.
Masur shocked viewers by saying Djokovic needed to be seriously injured for his opponent Pedro Martinez to stay in the match as it became obvious the Spaniard had no hope of winning.
During commentary, Wally Masur (left) said the only way Djokovic’s opponent could beat him was if he was to get injured
Despite being 38, Djokovic was still able to pull out his trademark big slides in his opening match of the Australian Open
Djokovic steamrolled Spanish star Pedro Martinez in a three-set clinic at Melbourne Park on Monday night
‘I think that’s Pedro’s biggest chance if Novak just tears an adductor on one of those slides. It might be just what he needs,’ Masur said in commentary
While the comment was a bungled attempt at praise, fans took it as Masur revealing that he hoped Djokovic would get hurt.
‘Seriously, what is wrong with these people.. This Grand slam needs new host, they are disgraceful,’ one viewer commented.
‘@AustralianOpen @CraigTiley fire that f***ing a**hole Wally Masur. This is not a good look for you all,’ another fan fumed.
‘Is Wally Masur the best @wwos can do? Many better #tennis commentators around,’ another posted.
Despite the fact Masur would not have seriously hoped Djokovic was seriously injured, others said it was not a good look.
‘You can root against him but you don’t wish bodily harm on anybody ffs,’ another fumed.
‘Manifesting what the commentator wants to happen. It’s basically an indirect way of wishing Novak injury,’ another viewer added.
Masur was at the centre of attention after the match as well, saying that he got ‘excited’ about Djokovic’s body
Masur’s comment came after vision of a shirtless Djokovic celebrating winning the 2012 Australian Open (pictured) was shown to viewers
Djokovic let Masur know he was stunned by his take
Masur also came under fire for his comments about Djokovic’s body.
Following the match he spoke with the Australian commentator about the victory and his legacy of success at Melbourne Park.
During the interview, vision was shown of a shirtless Djokovic celebrating winning the Australian Open in 2012, when he was 24 years old.
‘Novak, you said you’re taking care of your mind and your body, you’ve certainly taken care of your body,’ Masur said.
‘That’s pretty impressive. What’s that, like, one per cent body fat?’
Djokovic replied: ‘I wish I could bring back that body, to be honest.
‘Not for the beach, not for the looks, but for the functionality on the court, I think it served me well.
‘I mean, I’m happy with my body so far, although things are different 15 years later.’
Things then took a turn, with Masur trying to interject and Djokovic not letting him.
‘Can I keep speaking?’ Djokovic asked.
‘I’m speaking about my body so I get excited, you know what I mean?’
To everyone’s shock, Masur then replied: ‘I’m getting excited.’
‘No, oh, no, no, no, no,’ a stunned Djokovic said.
Masur also had a cringeworthy interview with Russian Andrey Rublev after his win over Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi on Monday.
‘I think you and I have to do a few more interviews, just to try and get on the same level,’ Masur said.
‘We’re not quite connecting, but we’ll get there eventually.’
Masur then tried to talk about the weather conditions, but Rublev was keen to bite at his previous comment.
‘It’s true that we don’t have much connection,’ he said as the crowd laughed.
‘I don’t know what to say. Conditions, man? It’s Australia. It’s outdoor, of course it’s different … it’s a part of the sport, man.
‘You’ve been watching tennis for many years.’
