Novak Djokovic has no hard feelings towards John McEnroe after he compared his personal life to that of Tiger Woods.
McEnroe made the comments earlier this week during the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage. Discussing Djokovic’s recent struggles on the tour, the 58-year-old drew similarities between him and Woods, who went through a high-profile divorce from his wife in 2010.
”(He’s) had some off-court issues with the family. That’s going to throw you. If you’re distracted you’re not the same player.” McEnroe said.
“The person that comes to mind immediately with Novak is not a tennis player, it’s actually a golfer: Tiger Woods. When he [Woods] had the issues with his wife, and then he seemed to go completely off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player. So we’re starting to say: ‘Wait a minute, is this possible with him [Djokovic]?'”
Unlike Woods, Djokovic is not facing the prospect of separating from his partner. His wife Jelena, who he married in 2014, is expecting their second child later this year. Previously the Serbian has attributed his rocky journey on the tour to ‘motivational issues’ as well as other factors that has been troubling him since the 2016 French Open.
It is the second time within as many week’s that McEnroe has attracted controversy for his blunt opinion. He has also suggested that Serena Williams would only be ranked in the top-700 on the men’s tour. Williams responded by asking him to ‘respect her privacy.’
Fortunately for McEnroe, Djokovic is brushing aside his comments as he refused to say anything critical. Shortly after his straight sets win over Adam Pavlesek, the world No.4 stated that McEnroe is entitled to his own opinion.
“John has a complete right to say — anybody, really, in the world has a right to say what they want, and I respect that right.” He said.
“Especially coming from John, because he’s someone that has earned that right because of who he is and what he has meant to the sport and what he still representing as a former player and still being very active on the tour.”
Continuing his diplomatic assessment of McEnroe’s words, the Serbian said that he has great respect for the former world No.1. He recounted one time that two practiced together ahead of one of his matches at the US Open.
“I really don’t take anything personal. I always got along very well with John. You know, I guess whether that’s his opinion or criticism or something else, I’m not really sure. But in the end of the day, I respect everything he says.” Djokovic explained.
As for the comparison to woods, Djokovic remains baffled over ‘what the basis’ was for McEnroe to say that.
