Carlos Alcaraz has been accused of mocking the injury that sent a scare through Novak Djokovic‘s camp during his come-from-behind win over the Spanish star at the Australian Open on Tuesday night.
The 24-time grand slam champion took a medical timeout to have his left thigh strapped when he was down 4-5 in the first set after having his serve broken, before going on to record a stunning 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4 victory.
During a change of ends in the third set, Alcaraz was seen limping back to his seat and grabbing his upper right thigh before he sat down. He then stood up and continued favouring his left leg and grabbing at the area.
Tennis greats turned commentators John McEnroe and James Blake picked up on it straight away and took it as the 21-year-old taking a shot at his opponent.
‘Novak is kind of in his head and when he was coming to the changeover here, he looks like he’s actually… you can see the frustration. He’s kind of limping around as if he’s… then he gets up and does it again, looking at his [coaching] box and limping around. And then he’s obviously fine, just acting like he’s got some sort of an injury there,’ Blake said.
‘That’s what I would do if I was playing him, I’d be like Novak, I’d be going right at Novak and be like, hey man, come on. No kidding, I don’t blame him,’ McEnroe added as Blake said, ‘It’s clearly the frustration.’
Djokovic called for a medical timeout when he was losing the first set of Sunday night’s clash with Alcaraz – but recovered to record a stunning four-set victory
The Spaniard was seen limping and grabbing his upper thigh in what tennis greats John McEnroe and James Blake saw as him mocking the Serb’s struggles
Blake said, ‘He’s acting like he’s got some sort of injury there,’ in commentary when he saw the 21-year-old clutching at his right leg and favouring his left
Djokovic is known for his ability to overcome injury setbacks, as he did while he battled a wrist complaint at last year’s Australian Open before falling to Jannik Sinner in their semifinal.
However, some tennis fans believe he talks up his injuries as a way of psyching himself up for matches – and possibly to use them as an explanation if he loses.
Fans who commented about the Alcaraz incident were divided about whether the Spaniard was mocking ‘Joker’, and if the 37-year-old was overstating the seriousness of his leg complaint to get a timeout while he was struggling.
‘You gotta give it to Novak though. He is a master in pretending to be injured at will and feeling normal later if he wants to. Carlos was clearly annoyed with what happened. The acting needs to stop,’ one wrote.
‘So your point is Novak faked an injury in the first set, that he lost?! But than he beat Carlos in the other 3sets because he got a medical time out?! Really?! 16yrs older and his medical time out won the whole match?! Dont be ridiculous seriously,’ another countered.
‘Alcaraz exposed fakeovic,’ another fan commented.
‘Honestly, I wouldn’t have expected something like this from Alcaraz. Maybe Djokovic overstretched his hamstrings, and it took some time for the painkillers to take effect,’ said a third.
‘So even Alcaraz has figured out Djokovic’s feints? Then it’s not just the 50 million people who’ve understood them,’ another fan wrote.
Alcaraz’s act divided tennis fans, with some accusing Djokovic of playing up his injury to get a much-needed break, or to provide an excuse if he lost
The No.3 seed’s 16-year age advantage over the 24-time grand slam champion counted for nothing in the epic three-hour battle
The three-hour, 37-minute epic saw the Serb defy the 16-year age gap to Alcaraz and take another step towards his 11th Australian Open title.
He also conducted an on-court interview with Channel Nine’s Jim Courier after boycotting the broadcaster after the furore over Tony Jones mocking him in a live cross last Friday evening.
‘I just wish this match today was a final,’ Djokovic told the crowd after the victory.
‘One of the most epic matches I have played on this court – on any court, really.
‘If I lost the second set, I don’t know if I would continue playing.
‘I felt better and managed to play a great couple of games to end out the second set.’
Djokovic will now face second seed Alexander Zverev in the semi final – and if he gets past him by recording his 100th win at the Australian Open, he could face world No.1 Sinner or Australia’s Alex de Minaur for the title on Sunday.
