Novak Djokovic says Aussie is a ‘bad look for tennis’ amid hilarious Olympic scenes

Serbian tennis king Novak Djokovic said he doesn’t ‘understand the rules’ as he hit out against how he ended up facing his Aussie opponent.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic shares a joke with Australia's Matthew Ebden. Picture: Eurosport/Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP

Novak Djokovic has hit out at the Olympic tennis program as he questioned how a journeyman Aussie who hasn’t played a singles match for two years was included in the draw.

The world number two dismantled Matthew Ebden 6-0, 6-1 in just 53 minutes in the first round at Paris’ Court Philippe-Chatrier.

Such was the task Ebden, 36, faced that at one point in the second set he offered his racquet to a crowd member and asked if they wanted to take over while down 4-0, in a lighthearted moment.

The loss to the Serbian superstar is set to be Ebden’s last singles match of his career.

Matthew Ebden saw the funny side of his resounding loss. Picture: Eurosport

Doubles specialist Ebden last played a grand slam singles match at the 2019 Australian Open, and currently does not have a singles ranking.

He was drafted in to the men’s singles draw to replace the withdrawal of Holger Rune as one of the top-ranked doubles players.

This appeared to rankle Djokovic – who is still looking to better his bronze medal place at the 2008 Games – and he did not hold back in his post-match press conference.

“I really don’t understand the rules,” the 37-year-old said.

“It’s not logical for me that you have someone withdraws from singles and you call up a doubles player to play singles.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic shares a joke with Australia's Matthew Ebden. Picture: Patricia De Melo Moreira/AFP

“I don’t think it’s a good image for the sport, to be honest. There are lots of singles players that had plenty of time to get here and could have been called to come.

“So this part I don’t get at all. I hope the ITF (International Tennis Federation) and the Olympics change the rule because it was tough on Matt. He hasn’t played singles in two years.”

Speaking after the match, Ebden said it was a “miracle” to have had the chance to play 24-time grand slam winner Djokovic in his last singles match.

“I wasn’t coming here to play singles put it that way. It has been two years since my last professional singles match. This is officially me retired from singles,” the former world number 39 said.

“What a place to do it, on Chatrier against Novak. I was lucky in my singles career, I played against Federer, Nadal, Murray and played on all the big centre courts around the world.”

Under ITF rules, any singles withdrawals are replaced by the highest-ranked singles player in the doubles draw.

Once there are no players with singles rankings, replacements are highest-ranked doubles players.

Djokovic could play Rafael Nadal in the next round. Picture: Miguel Medina/AFP

Spanish gun Carlos Alcaraz echoed Djokovic’s sentiments in an interview following his win alongside Rafael Nadal in the men’s doubles.

“It’s a difficult rule, I guess. Honestly there are a lot of players who deserve to be here and playing here in the Olympic Games,” he said.

“I think it should be different, because the next singles player (in the rankings) deserves to be here if someone withdraws from the tournament.”

Nadal could set up a second round blockbuster against Djokovic with a win over Hungarian Marton Fucsovics on Sunday.

Dream team Nadal and Alcaraz won through to the next round of the doubles draw with a straight-sets victory over Argentina’s Andrés Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez 7-6, 6-4.

– with AFP.

Originally published as Novak Djokovic says Aussie is a ‘bad look for tennis’ amid hilarious Olympic scenes