US TENNIS LEGEND John McEnroe accused Novak Djokovic of giving up in his stunning French Open exit at the hands of Dominic Thiem yesterday.
Defending champion Djokovic collapsed to a meek 7-6 (7/5) 6-3 6-0 loss to Thiem in what was his earliest exit at Roland Garros in seven years.
Defeat also meant that just 12 months after holding all four Grand Slam titles, the 30-year-old was left fighting to prove he is still a relevant force in the sport.
“I don’t remember seeing a time in the last six to eight years when Novak mailed it in,” seven-time major winner McEnroe told the BBC. ”He basically gave up.”
Wednesday’s loss was just the ninth time that Djokovic had suffered a 6-0 ‘bagel’ set and first at a Slam since facing France’s Gael Monfils at the US Open in 2005 when he was still a teenager.
“It looked in the third set like he just didn’t want to be out there, couldn’t compete any more, and that’s shocking for a guy that’s won as much as he has and prides himself on competition,” added McEnroe.
“It just shows you everyone’s human.”
McEnroe added: “If you had told me a year ago, when he was the only guy since Rod Laver holding all four Slams that this is what we’d be talking about now, I’d have told you you were nuts.”
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Djokovic should probably take a break for a couple of months and try to rejuvenate himself in time for US Open … as it’s clear than he’s having a serious meltdown.
Wawrinka no push over and of course Nadal still around but have a feeling it’s Murray’s year.
@Ardmore02: Murray is peaking at the right time but can’t see him beating Nadal. Although Thiem is probably the only player on tour who can be legitimately confident of beating Nadal on clay after the other week and if he does then Murray has a great chance.
@Ardmore02: I think your feeling is very misplaced ;-) Wawrinka is in fine form, so I doubt he’ll get past that hurdle. And unless Thiem does him the favour of knocking Nadal out, I wouldn’t give Murray much of a chance against Rafa.
@Ardmore02: Warwrinka hasn’t lost a set so far. He’d be my pick to win the tournament
Yeah will be tough, but all in all should be a cracking last 4 and final.
Wawrinka will at times blast Murray off the court but can he sustain that for 3, 4 or 5 sets is the question. Murray’s defensive abilities are incredible at times and as the match goes on he’ll devise more and more ways of neutralising Wawrinka. Murray’s also the fitter player. Fascinating match. It’s hard to see any of them beating Nadal though.