Australian Open: John McEnroe says Novak Djokovic’s ‘ludicrous’ deportation saga ‘is going to hit him hard … he worked so hard to be loved’

American tennis legend questions some of world No 1’s decisions amid visa issue but sympathises over desire to win fans’ support

‘I know about times when people are against you, but deep down we want to be loved,’ seven-time major winner McEnroe admits

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Novak Djokovic prepares to take his seat on a plane to Belgrade, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 17 after being deported from Australia. Photo: AP/Darko Bandic

Published: 11:56pm, 21 Jan 2022Updated: 6:32am, 22 Jan 2022

Tennis legend John McEnroe thinks Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open deportation saga “is going to hit him hard”.

Djokovic said he was “extremely disappointed” after losing his Federal Court appeal to stay in Australia last Sunday. He had his visa cancelled on public safety grounds, after government officials had questioned the decision to give him a medical exemption against getting vaccinated for Covid-19.

The 20-times grand slam winner’s coach Marian Vajda had broken the team’s silence on Friday, saying the world No 1 was “hurting mentally” at his “unjust and unhealthy” treatment in Melbourne, where he has won the last three Australian Open titles.

“He is as tough as they come ever on a tennis court mentally,” seven-time major winner McEnroe later told Eurosport. “Remember a couple of years ago when he fell off the map? He’d won four [majors] in a row and the next year and a half or so he couldn’t beat anyone. All of a sudden he came back and he was better than ever.

“He has made it somewhat more difficult for himself by not getting vaccinated. That’s complicated things for trying to defend titles that he won.