Novak Djokovic being booed after injury 'horrible' - Experts 'shocked' and 'disappointed' by reaction at Australian Open

Novak Djokovic was booed off Rod Laver Arena by some fans after he was forced to retire from his Australian Open semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev due to injury. A number of Eurosport experts were left "shocked" and "disappointed" at part of the crowd's reaction, while they also praised Djokovic's German opponent for the sportsmanship he showed. "It was horrible," Schett admitted.

Novak Djokovic's bid for a record-extending 11th Australian Open came to an abrupt end when he was forced to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

The Serbian admitted he could have played his last-ever match at the tournament in Melbourne after struggling with a left leg muscle tear.

Djokovic's retirement from the match after just one set led to boos from some of the fans inside Rod Laver Arena, and Eurosport experts Barbara Schett and Laura Robson were appalled by the crowd's response.

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"It was horrible, we were shocked, Laura and myself, when the crowd started booing," Schett told Eurosport.

"You never know in tennis, in sports, anything can happen. You can get injured, and clearly, he was that injured he couldn't continue.

"Yes, the tickets are expensive, but again, that's sports. It's not like you buy a ticket for a movie and you know this is going on for two hours and you're going to be there from start to finish.

"No, you could be there [at tennis] for an hour and a half only, but you could also be there for five hours and that's the beauty about tennis, because you never know what happens."

'It was a big shock for everyone' - Reaction to Djokovic's injury retirement

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Schett added that she "loved" the sportsmanship and respect shown by Zverev, who pleaded with fans not to boo the tennis great.

"As he should," Robson said. "To hear that as Novak's walking out, for anyone to get booed when they're struggling with an injury, let alone someone who has won the tournament 10 times.

"He's trying to reach heights in tennis that no one has achieved before. So to see him walk off, dejected, not having the support he would have wanted, is just really disappointing."

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'Haunting' boos an 'ugly moment'

Justine Henin also gave her opinion on the troubling reaction from part of the crowd.

"Djokovic has lived in [his] best moments here but also a detention three years ago [referring to his deportation]," the former world No. 1 said.

"Today, it was an ugly moment, in my opinion. We can't accept that for a player who gave so much today, but also in the history of this sport.

"We understand that people paid for this game, but we need to have nuance. Djokovic has very rarely abandoned a Grand Slam. He is 38 years old, he still comes here to give his best.

"It's not logical with the champion he is. He was right to react, it was ironic.

"He belongs to the part of players who don't shut up in front of this behaviour. He's right."

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Arnaud Clement added that it was a "haunting" moment and questioned whether some of those inside Rod Laver Arena were clued-up on their tennis.

"It's lamentable, even worse that people are trying to perturb people," he said.

"To boo Novak Djokovic, it's not all the crowd, I found it haunting.

"He's ironic, but I think he doesn't understand how it is possible. There are less and less people who know tennis in the crowd."

Djokovic says 'there's a chance' he's played last Australian Open after injury retirement

Video credit: TNT Sports

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