Australian Tennis Veteran's Djokovic Remark Ignites Media Storm
Former Australian tennis star Wally Masur has become embroiled in significant controversy following what he described as a throwaway comment about ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. The incident occurred during Channel 9's live broadcast of Djokovic's first-round match against Pedro Martinez at Melbourne Park.
Controversial Commentary During Historic Match
During Monday's match, which marked Djokovic's 21st Australian Open appearance and his 100th victory at Melbourne Park, Masur suggested that Martinez's only realistic chance of defeating the Serbian legend would be through injury. 'I think that's Pedro's biggest chance if Novak just tears an adductor on one of those slides. It might be just what he needs,' Masur stated during the broadcast.
The comment came as Djokovic delivered a commanding performance, defeating Martinez 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 while equalling two significant tennis records. The Serbian now shares the record for most Australian Open appearances with Roger Federer and matches the overall Grand Slam appearance record held by Federer and Feliciano Lopez.
Serbian Media and Fan Backlash
Serbian media outlets responded with immediate criticism following Masur's remarks. Nova TV described the commentary as 'shameful' and questioned how a professional commentator could make such statements during a live broadcast. Other Serbian publications, including Mondo and Telegraf, labelled the incident a 'live feed scandal' and 'catastrophic' respectively.
Tennis fans expressed similar disappointment across social media platforms. One supporter wrote on X: 'Seriously, what is wrong with these people. This Grand Slam needs a new host, they are disgraceful.' Another added: 'You can root against him but you don't wish bodily harm on anybody.'
Awkward Post-Match Interview
The controversy continued during Masur's post-match interview with Djokovic, which became notably uncomfortable. While discussing the 38-year-old's physical conditioning, Masur complimented Djokovic's body maintenance, asking about his body fat percentage. Djokovic responded by expressing nostalgia for his younger physique, stating: 'I wish I could bring back that body, to be honest. Not for the beach, not for the looks, but for the functionality on the court.'
The exchange took an awkward turn when Masur interjected during Djokovic's response about his physical condition, prompting the Serbian to assert: 'Can I keep speaking? I'm speaking about my body, so I get excited, you know what I mean?' Masur's reply of 'I'm getting excited' left both Djokovic and the crowd visibly stunned.
Historical Context and Djokovic's Current Form
This incident follows previous tension between Djokovic and Channel 9 during last year's Australian Open, when veteran anchor Tony Jones made comments about the Serbian's fans that led to Djokovic boycotting interviews until receiving a public apology. Both Jones and the network issued apologies at that time.
Djokovic's current Australian Open campaign sees him pursuing his 11th title at Melbourne Park, with his tournament record now standing at an impressive 100-10. The 24-time Grand Slam champion demonstrated vintage form during his opening match, delivering exceptional serving statistics including 77% first serves in, 93% first serve points won, and 14 aces without facing a single break point.
Following his victory, Djokovic acknowledged the challenge presented by younger rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who have dominated major tournaments in recent years. He humorously noted similarities between his own service motion and Alcaraz's reworked technique, joking about copyright issues and requesting tribute payments for every ace.
Despite the controversy surrounding Masur's comments, Djokovic remains focused on his historic pursuit, stating: 'History-making is a great motivation.' His performance against Martinez sent what he described as 'the right signal' to potential opponents as he continues his quest to become the most decorated tennis player of all time.
