World thinks Australia is a ‘disgrace’ after Novak Djokovic scenes

The landscape has turned at the Australian Open and in an extraordinary turn of events, the world has had enough of the host country.

The sight of Novak Djokovic walking into the Rod Laver Arena players’ tunnel chased by boos is the moment the host country crossed the line.

The tennis world has been scathing of the behaviour shown by Australian fans at Melbourne Park after the 10-time Australian Open champ retired hurt 84 minutes into his semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday.

The Serbian had shown glimpses of brilliance before losing the first set in a tiebreak — making his sudden retirement all the more shocking for the spectators, who had paid $800 to watch one set of tennis.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

After a series of less-than-flattering incidents earlier in the tournament, tennis commentators have branded Australian Open fans a “disgrace”.

When certain sections of the crowd decided this moment was the best time to boo “The King of Melbourne Park” as he waved farewell to the crowd, tennis legend John McEnroe couldn’t believe it.

“They can’t possibly be booing him — please,” McEnroe said on Channel 9.

“He’s won this 10 times for god’s sakes. Unreal.”

Hopefully it’s not the last time we see Novak Djokovic. Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP

The American cult hero went on to say: “Come on. Clearly something was up. The guy’s a battler — him and Rafa have dug deeper than any two players I have ever seen mentally, physically, you name it.

“So to do that when he decided he couldn’t go on after what he’s done here, I thought was absolutely ludicrous honestly.

“That was almost as depressing as seeing him end the match, to see him do that and then put his thumbs-up … too bad, too bad.”

Australian fans have been getting into trouble for booing players and being overly parochial for our local hopes for years now.

American Danielle Collins made herself public enemy No. 1 at Melbourne Park earlier in the tournament after baiting the crowd in her second round win over local star Destanee Aiava.

And there are countless other instances in recent years.

But it was clear it went too far after Zverev used the first part of his on-court interview to reprimand the crowd.

“Please, guys — don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury,” Zverev said.

“I know everyone paid for tickets and everybody wants to see a great five-set match. But you have to understand for the past 20 years, Novak Djokovic has given tennis absolutely everything.

“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue with this match, it means he really can’t continue.”

Australian fans are very much on the nose.

American tennis commentator Brad Gilbert wrote on X: “I was beyond shocked a few were booing Djoker, good for Zverev for speaking ️up. Absolutely no reason for that to have happened”.

Leading tennis journalist Jose Morgado posted: “This was unbelievably poor taste from the crowd tbh.

“10 times champ who probably went on court just for the crowd to watch a bit of him. Hopefully not for the last time.

“Don’t boo injured athletes. Doesn’t make sense, folks.”

Djokovic had been struggling. Picture: Michael Klein

The world was in shock over the scenes. Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP

The most telling development has been the condemnation Australian tennis figures have shown, shaking their heads at their own fans.

Australian doubles great Rennae Stubbs did not hold back in her appraisal.

“I don’t care what u think of Djokovic, love him or hate him. If U booed him off the court today, you’re a disgrace,” she wrote on X.

“That man has literally left his heart & soul on that court. He’s our greatest champion Melbourne and he’s injured! Think about what you just did. Disgraceful!”

Aussies John Millman and Jelena Dokic have also been widely praised for rebuking the crowd.

“The crowds have been questioned a lot and rightly so,” Millman said. “I just think it’s a bit of a shambles, some of the behaviour has crossed the line and that one takes the cake for me.

“This is a guy who has won it 10 times, have some respect. He is one of the greatest of all time, if not the greatest — he’s definitely the greatest on this court. I don’t care how much you’ve paid for your ticket, have some respect.”

Nick Kyrgios clearly agreed.

The former Wimbledon finalist on X showed public support for Millman’s comments and re-tweeted a post from a user of X that called the crowd’s behaviour “pathetic”.

Djokovic did everything he could. Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP

Veteran ABC sport commentator Quentin Hull summed it up on ABC’s 7.30 Report.

“We’ve always had such a great reputation in Australia of being the best tennis fans in the world and undoubtedly that’s a reputation that is now under threat,” he said.

Speaking with reporters in the post-match press conference, Djokovic said it may be the last time he plays in the tournament.

He also said the boos were not lost on him.

“I don’t know what to say. People have come, they paid for the tickets expecting a great match and a big fight, which they didn’t get. From that perspective, I can understand,” he said of the crowd’s booing.

“I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to understand me.”

“I know how my body works, what I feel, and I know how much I’ve given to this tournament in the past 20-plus years. I will stop here, so that I don’t continue (speaking) in the wrong direction (wry smile).”

It doesn’t help the host nation’s reputation that semi-finalist Ben Shelton also hit out at “embarrassing and disrespectful” interviews players have endured this fortnight.

There is also the infamous saga of Channel 9 host Tony Jones chanting “kick him out” towards a group of Serbian fans supporting Djokovic.

It is not how you treat a 10-time champion - and the rest of the world knows it.