'It only hurts when you're losing' - Novak Djokovic faces criticism after injury timeout
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Djokovic faces criticism after injury timeout || Imago

'It only hurts when you're losing' - Novak Djokovic faces criticism after injury timeout

Stephen Oladehinde 09:31 - 13.07.2025

Novak Djokovic struggled with an injury during the match, drawing criticism from tennis legend John McEnroe.

The Serbian star widely considered the greatest tennis player of all time, failed to reach the Wimbledon final after losing to current world number one, Jannik Sinner, in the semi-final.

Djokovic picked up the injury during his quarter-final clash with Flavio Cobolli. He requested a medical timeout after the second set against Sinner, a match he ultimately lost in straight sets.

Djokovic critisised

Djokovic's timeout drew criticism from seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe, who suggested that Novak wouldn't have complained about the injury if the scoreline had been different.

"It's not about his injury, it's about playing Sinner. He's moving perfectly fine. We all know the saying: it only hurts when you're losing," John McEnroe said, as reported by Sportal.

Djokovic in action || imago
Djokovic in action || imago

Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in this year's final. Alcaraz defeated American Taylor Fritz in the first semi-final.

This breaks the recent trend of Alcaraz and Djokovic contesting the London final, as they have for the past two years.

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