'Always does it': Rival fumes over dodgy Novak Djokovic tactics
Pablo Carreno Busta has called out Novak Djokovic’s tactic of calling for a medical time-out for minor complaints as a strategy to halt his opponent’s momentum.
The Spaniard won the first set against the world No.1 in their fourth-round French Open clash, only for Djokovic to call for the timeout and subsequently win the following three sets.
'I'M DISTRACTED': Star kicks boyfriend out of French Open stands
'RELENTLESS' Nadal sets up revenge clash with clay conqueror
Djokovic’s time-out attracted scrutiny from fans, and when asked about it after the match, Carreno Busta said his rival’s call for medical attention was predictable.
“He didn’t surprise me. It’s a good thing,” he said.
“It’s a sign that he is losing and that I was playing well, because he always does that.
“Every time the match gets complicated, he asks for medical assistance.
“It’s something that he has been doing for years. When he is down, he asks for the trainer.
“I don’t know, maybe it’s the pressure or something that he needs to do it. But, I mean, he continues playing normal, no?
I don’t know if he’s (in) pain really or it’s mental. Ask him.”
Novak Djokovic defends controversial medical timeout
In his own interviews after the 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory over Carreno Busta, Djokovic was careful not to give too much detail away about any potential injury.
He went on to say he didn’t want to discuss the injury too much because he didn’t want to be seen to be complaining about it.
“It didn't feel great but I don't really want to talk about that in detail, it sounds like complaining," he said.
“He (Carreno Busta) was the better player for the first half, he made all the shots.
“I definitely didn't feel great for an hour, an hour and a half. I don't recommend this (hitting his arms) to anybody at home.
“But I found a rhythm in the second set, faced some break points and then won 7-8 games in a row.
“This kind of match is decided in a few moments and I'm really pleased I got there mentally.
“I had some neck issues and some shoulder issues. I’ll just say that.
“I mean, I don’t want to get really too much into it. Obviously I’m still in the tournament, so I don’t want to reveal too much.”
Djokovic's semi-final opponent Tsitsipas stormed into the last four with a clinical 7-5 6-2 6-3 victory over Andrey Rublev.
Djokovic is the most disgraceful tennis player ever.. In every important match he fakes injury, diverts opponent's rhythm and then play like a fine robot and wins.. Disgusting#RG20
— Applepie 🍏 (@itzwajiii) October 7, 2020
Djokovic miraculously recovers from an injury mid-match for the umpteenth time in his career. 😴
— Nathan Smith (@NSmithy29) October 7, 2020
i wish i loved anything as much as djokovic loves acting like any minor muscle discomfort is a life threatening injury
— GOREdan Freiman (but like... it's a soft G) (@JordanFreiman) October 7, 2020
Another reason Djokovic will never be loved as much as Fed and Nadal is because of his on court cat and mouse injury antics. He always has the biggest “imaginary” injury that always ends up having no effect on the outcome of the match. #RolandGarros
— George IV (@GFDIV) October 7, 2020
Tsitsipas's only moments of concern came in the opening set when Russian Rublev, the 13th seed, made a brisk opening to lead 5-3.
Yet four games later, Rublev had surrendered the set, and barely more than an hour later, he had lost the match, winning only five more games in what proved a one-sided encounter with the No.5 seed.
"I've been feeling really comfortable on this court and despite a bad start and being a break down I remembered what a big fighter I am," Tsitsipas told the sparse crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier afterwards.
With AAP
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
