"All about click-bait" - Novak Djokovic's ex-coach Boris Becker slams misleading reports about his stance on Serb's Australian Open injury

Novak Djokovic's former coach and tennis legend, Boris Becker, has defended himself against accusations of suggesting the Serb faked a foot injury during his 2025 Australian Open withdrawal. Djokovic retired from the tournament during his semifinal clash with Germany's Alexander Zverev.

The 37-year-old was pursuing his 25th Grand Slam title, but a left hamstring tear hindered his progress. The injury first became apparent during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz, when he took a lengthy time-out after the first set. However, he returned strong and ultimately won the match.

The 24-time Major champion skipped a practice session on January 23, the day before his semifinal against Alexander Zverev. This led many fans to suspect the Serb was dealing with a legitimate injury. In the wake of Djokovic's concerns Boris Becker had earlier said:

"The biggest question is whether Novak is physically ready. He is 37 years old, he was injured against Alcaraz, but afterwards he moved very well," he told Eurosport (via sportklub).

In light of Djokovic's growing injury concerns ahead of the Australian Open semifinal, Becker commended his ability to handle such challenges. He then urged Alexander Zverev to concentrate on his own strengths, unaffected by the Serb's tactics.

“Novak has been through it all. No one has played more Grand Slam matches, no one has won more Grand Slams. He really has experienced everything you can experience on the tennis court. Sascha has to stick to his game and show his strengths – his serve, his baseline strokes and his fitness. He mustn’t let himself be put off his game, whatever his opponent does," he told Eurosport (via MSN).

Although the six-time Major champion had previously discussed Djokovic's injury, he never questioned its legitimacy. In a recent post on X, Becker reaffirmed this and criticized the prevalence of clickbait, which often strays from factual reporting.

"I have never questioned the severity of @DjokerNole injury! Probably someone did wrong translation from German into English… Schatzi is family for me since 2013 !It’s all about the click-bait these days and not about facts! @AustralianOpen @Eurosport_DE."

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Novak Djokovic hasn't won a tour title since last year

Novak Djokovic at 2025 Australian Open - Image Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic has not secured a tour-level title since last year. The Serb's most recent triumph came at the 2024 Paris Olympics, which did not count as an ATP title.

Djokovic's last tour-level title came at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals. Last year, the 37-year-old had an impressive 37-9 win-loss record and finished as the runner-up at both the Shanghai Masters and Wimbledon.

Some other notable campaigns include a semifinal finish at the Geneva Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters, and the Australian Open. He also had a quarterfinal finish at the 2024 French Open. The former World No.1 also looks to win his 25th Grand Slam title this year.