NOVAK IS THE BAD GUY NOW
... but enjoy it says Mcenroe
JOHN MCENROE has told Novak Djokovic that he will be “the bad guy” for the rest of his career after being kicked out of the US Open.
But the original ‘ Superbrat’ has urged the world No. 1 to embrace the role if he wants to become the greatest player of all time.
Serbian superstar Djokovic was thrown out of the American Grand Slam hitting a line judge with a ball.
Mcenroe, 61, famously rowed with Wimbledon officials and became the first player to be defaulted from a Grand Slam for abusive language at the 1990 Australian Open.
Djokovic had not lost a match in 2020 but did not win many fans after contracting Covid- 19 during his controversial Adria Tour events and then bidding to organise a new players’ association.
And Mcenroe said: “The pressure just got to him I think. A lot’s been going on off the court.
“It was a rookie mistake. It’s obviously affected him and now, whether he likes it or not, he’s going to be the bad guy the rest of his career.”
Djokovic blew a great chance to win an 18th Grand Slam in New York as he seeks to overtake Rafa Nadal ( 19) and Roger Federer ( 20).
Mcenroe ( inset) added: “It’ll be interesting to see how he handles it. I didn’t say he couldn’t recover. If he embraces that role, I think he could recover, absolutely.
“He’s chasing history, he is trying to pass Rafa and Roger. He’s got a lot of things going for him, but this is obviously a stain that he’s not going to be able to erase, whether he likes it or not.
“It’s about how he will deal with this moving forward. What type of reaction will he get from the other players?
“What type of reaction will he get when fans start coming back to the sports arenas?
“These are all issues that you for recklessly don’t know the answers to. I’m just amaz amazed that he did something as bone- headed as that in a si situation where he was the m massive favourite.
“He’s got a chance to go to the French Open and we will see what happens.” Djokovic refused to attend his post- match press conference but later released an apology on Instagram, writing: “This whole situation has left me really sad and empty.
“I checked on the linesperson and the tournament told me that thank God she is feeling OK. I’m extremely sorry to have caused her such stress. So unintended. So wrong.
“I apologise to the US Open tournament and everyone associated for my behaviour.
“Thank you and I’m so sorry.”