Australian Open broadcaster criticised for joking about Novak Djokovic

January 21, 2026 Oliver Obel

A comment made during Novak Djokovic’s opening match at the Australian Open has drawn criticism from viewers, shifting attention away from the tennis and toward the broadcast team covering the match.

During Djokovic’s first-round encounter at Rod Laver Arena on Monday night, former Australian Open semi-finalist Wally Masur made a remark suggesting that Djokovic’s opponent would need the Serbian to suffer an injury to have a realistic chance of winning. The comment, intended as humour, prompted backlash on social media, where fans said it crossed an unacceptable line.

Djokovic, who is chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, opened his campaign with a comfortable straight-sets win over Spain’s Pedro Martinez. The 24-time major champion dominated the contest, closing out a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory without appearing under significant pressure.

However, the on-court action was quickly overshadowed by Masur’s words in the commentary box. According to reporting by the Daily Mail, Masur said:
“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.”

https://twitter.com/Archaicmind3000/status/2013216354648666537

The remark spread quickly online, where many fans objected to the idea of joking about player injuries, particularly during a Grand Slam broadcast. One viewer wrote on social media: “You can root against him but you don't wish bodily harm on anybody!” Another questioned the broadcaster’s standards, asking whether there were “many better tennis commentators around,” while a third described the coverage as “disgraceful.”

In professional tennis, player health and injuries are a sensitive topic, with careers often disrupted by long recovery periods. As a result, even offhand comments about physical harm can attract strong reactions from audiences.

Despite the controversy, Masur later conducted the on-court interview with Djokovic following the match. During the segment, footage from Djokovic’s 2012 Australian Open victory showing him celebrating shirtless was displayed on the stadium screen.

Referencing the clip, Masur asked: “Novak, you said you're taking care of your mind and your body, you've certainly taken care of your body. That's pretty impressive. What's that, like, one per cent body fat?”

Djokovic responded by reflecting on the physical demands of a long career at the top of the sport. “I wish I could bring back that body, to be honest,” he said. “Not for the beach, not for the looks, but for the functionality on the court. I think it served me well. I mean, I'm happy with my body so far, although things are different 15 years later.”

Djokovic will continue his Australian Open campaign in the second round as he pursues further history in Melbourne.

Sources: Daily Mail