Tennys Sandgren recently revisited Roger Federer’s controversial remarks about Novak Djokovic from the 2009 Australian Open. Sandgren’s revisit occurred after Djokovic’s stunning come-from-behind victory against Lorenzo Musetti in the third round of the ongoing French Open. This match showcased Djokovic’s resilience and determination, qualities that have defined his career.
Federer’s comments in 2009, which were perceived as critical of Djokovic, have remained a point of contention among Djokovic’s fans.In the wake of Sandgren’s revisit, many of these fans, still aggrieved by Federer’s past remarks, reacted angrily, reigniting the debate about the fairness and sportsmanship of Federer’s statements. This episode underscores the long-standing and intense rivalries within the tennis world, highlighting how past comments can continue to impact current events and fan reactions.
Novak Djokovic entered the 2009 Australian Open as the defending champion, having won his first Grand Slam title in Melbourne the previous year. However, during his quarterfinal match against Andy Roddick, the extreme heat in Melbourne severely affected Djokovic. Struggling to cope with the soaring temperatures, Djokovic ultimately retired in the fourth set, allowing Roddick to advance to the semifinals. This incident drew criticism from some, including Roger Federer, whose comments about Djokovic’s retirement sparked controversy and lingering resentment among Djokovic’s fans.
In the 2009 Australian Open, Roger Federer, who had decisively defeated Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals, was later asked about Novak Djokovic’s mid-match retirement against Andy Roddick. In his response, Federer said:“[Djokovic] gave up against Roddick, I mean, he said he was ill. He’s not a guy who’s never given up before. It’s disappointing.”Federer’s remarks were seen as critical and have continued to be a point of contention, especially among Djokovic’s fans. This controversy was reignited recently when Tennys Sandgren revisited these comments following Djokovic’s dramatic comeback victory against Lorenzo Musetti at the French Open.
“He’s not a guy who’s never given up before (referring to Djokovic’s mid-match retirements against Rafael Nadal at the 2006 French Open quarterfinals and the 2007 Wimbledon semifinals)…
it’s disappointing.”
Roger Federer also suggested that Novak Djokovic retired primarily because he was losing to Andy Roddick and wouldn’t have done so if he had been winning. Federer stated:”[Djokovic] gave up against Roddick, I mean, he said he was ill. He’s not a guy who’s never given up before. It’s disappointing. He’s got to toughen up a little bit. I’ve played with injuries and sickness, you’ve got to give it a go.”These remarks implied that Djokovic’s retirement was influenced more by the match situation than by his physical condition, which added to the controversy. Djokovic’s fans have held onto these comments, feeling they were unfair and disrespectful, and this sentiment resurfaced when Tennys Sandgren brought them up again after Djokovic’s comeback win against Lorenzo Musetti at the French Open.
“If Novak were up two sets to love I don’t think he would have retired 4-0 down in the fourth,”
Federer had said.
Roger Federer had remarked, “If Novak were up two sets to love I don’t think he would have retired 4-0 down in the fourth.” This comment suggested that Djokovic’s decision to retire was influenced more by his losing position than his physical condition. These remarks have continued to spark debate and criticism, particularly among Djokovic’s supporters, who felt Federer’s comments were unfair. The controversy was revisited recently by Tennys Sandgren following Djokovic’s remarkable comeback win against Lorenzo Musetti at the French Open.
Tennys Sandgren recently revisited Roger Federer’s controversial remarks about Novak Djokovic at the 2009 Australian Open. Sandgren’s revisit came in the aftermath of Djokovic’s stunning come-from-behind victory in the third round of the ongoing French Open against Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic’s fans, still aggrieved by what Federer had to say about the Serb back then, reacted angrily
.Djokovic went into the 2009 Australian Open as the defending champion, having won his maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne the previous year. However, during his quarterfinal match against Andy Roddick in 2009, the soaring heat in Melbourne took a vicious toll on the Serb. Ultimately, the defending champion retired in the fourth set, granting Roddick easy passage to the semis. Federer, who made short work of Juan Martin del Potro in the quarterfinals, was later asked about Djokovic’s mid-match retirement. In his response, the Swiss had said:
“He’s not a guy who’s never given up before (referring to Djokovic’s mid-match retirements against Rafael Nadal at the 2006 French Open quarterfinals and the 2007 Wimbledon semifinals)… it’s disappointing.” Federer also claimed that the Serb retired primarily because he was losing against Roddick and wouldn’t have done so had things been the other way around. “If Novak were up two sets to love I don’t think he would have retired 4-0 down in the fourth,” Federer had said.
Recently, Sandgren revisited Federer’s damning statements on the Serb following the latter’s miraculous recovery against Lorenzo Musetti. Djokovic looked down and out after going behind two sets to one to the Italian. However, he mounted a staggering comeback and eventually turned the tables on Musetti. According to Sandgren, Federer “probably shouldn’t have said” what he did about ‘Nole’ in 2009 in light of the Serb’s astonishing comeback.
“I don’t see why anybody should criticize me” – Novak Djokovic after retiring at the 2009 Australian Open
Novak Djokovic at the 2024 French Open
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Novak Djokovic was asked by the media about his decision to retire during his match against Andy Roddick at the 2009 Australian Open. The Serb elaborated on the difficulties he had been facing, which prompted him to make the decision to retire. Djokovic explained that the extreme heat in Melbourne had taken a significant toll on him, affecting his physical condition and ability to continue playing at a competitive level. This clarification shed light on the challenging circumstances Djokovic faced during the match, providing context for his retirement.
Novak Djokovic explained, “Conditions were extreme today. It did affect me more than him (Roddick), as you could see. But, you know, that was the situation. I just have to cope with it. Really tried my best, but sometimes you can’t fight against your own body.” Djokovic’s statement highlighted the severity of the conditions and the impact they had on his ability to compete effectively. Despite his best efforts, he recognized the limitations imposed by his physical condition, ultimately leading to his decision to retire from the match against Roddick at the 2009 Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic also defended his decisions to retire at the 2006 French Open and the 2007 Wimbledon Championships. He explained that in both instances, he faced physical challenges that significantly impacted his ability to continue competing at the highest level. Djokovic emphasized that these decisions were not taken lightly and were made after careful consideration of his physical well-being and the potential risks of further injury. By addressing these past retirements, Djokovic aimed to provide context for his actions and underscore the importance of prioritizing health and safety in professional sports.
“I did have some retirements but I always retired with a reason. I don’t see why anybody should criticize me,” Djokovic had added. This statement from Djokovic reinforced his stance that his decisions to retire from matches were based on valid reasons related to his physical condition. He defended his actions by emphasizing that he did not take the decision lightly and that there were genuine concerns about his ability to continue playing at a competitive level due to health-related issues. Djokovic’s remarks aimed to address any criticism surrounding his retirements and to assert the legitimacy of his choices in such circumstance.
