Novak Djokovic's Australian Open opponent calls Serb's injury "far-fetched", cites Rafael Nadal and Kylian Mbappe's injuries to back his claims

Novak Djokovic lifted his 10th Australian Open title last month, all the while tending to a left hamstring injury. Despite his struggles, Djokovic conceded just one set throughout his run -- in the second round against France's Enzo Couacaud.

Reflecting on Djokovic’s run at the tournament, Couacaud questioned the seriousness of the World No. 1’s injury. The Frenchman cited his compatriot and world-class footballer Kylian Mbappe’s recently incurred thigh injury, which is expected to see him sidelined during Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich.

Couacaud also revisited Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open hip injury, which has made it almost impossible for the 22-time Slam champion to walk and will see him out of action for six to eight weeks.

“The injury he says he has, it's significant, and a lot of combative athletes can't continue with the same thing. Nadal had an injury, he could no longer run. There, Mbappe is out for two weeks,” Enzo Couacaud said as per Tennis Actu.

“We are talking about the greatest athletes, not those who do not have access to care or the best equipment. Hard to believe that only one on earth can do it,” he added.

Couacaud further recalled Nadal’s 2022 Wimbledon quarterfinal injury, which restricted his movement while serving and eventually forced him to pull out of the semifinal fixture. He stated that Djokovic’s ability to compete despite a significant injury was far-fetched, and wondered if the 35-year-old simply suffered from chronic pain.

“When you take the examples of Nadal or Mbappe, but especially Rafa, with an injury at Wimbledon, he couldn't even serve. When you see the greatest who can't set foot on the pitch, and another who wins a Grand Slam by playing every day for 15 days. It still seems a bit far-fetched. Between having chronic pain or an injury, it's not the same,” he remarked.

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"I was always told not to stretch with an injury" - Enzo Couacaud on Novak Djokovic’s questionable approach to injury

Novak Djokovic in action against Enzo Couacaud at the 2023 Australian Open.

Enzo Couacaud went down to eventual Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-0, having clinched the second set on a tie-break. But the Frenchman sustained an injury in the process, rolling his right ankle during the clash and tearing two ligaments.

In that context, Couacaud questioned Djokovic's decision to carry on when the popular medical advice was to resign. He confessed that it was “weird” to see the 22-time Slam winner going all out.

“There are little things that don't make sense to me. I grew up with French medical knowledge. I was always told not to stretch with an injury. You saw Novak stretching all the time,” Couacaud stated.

“You say to yourself, either they have a new method in Serbia or it's weird. Little things like that. He has his staff, I'm too far to judge the authenticity of anything, but it is true that it seems hard to believe,” he added.