Third-ranked Novak Djokovic defeated the last American standing, Andy Roddick, despite Djokovic suffering from a few choice injuries. Or 16. You know, depending on who you talk to.
Roddick was asked on Tuesday about Djokovic's injuries and had some sarcastic, mocking comments towards the Serbian's ailments that included "a back, a hip, a cramp, Bird flu, Anthrax, SARS, the common cough and a cold." After the fourth set giveaway by Roddick last night, Djokovic pounded his chest and pointed to his shoulders (?) and then had this to say to USA Network reporter Michael Barkann. Via the always great Awful Announcing ...
The best part of this entire interview and exchange was how Barkann initially sees the opportunity to land some face time on all major sports outlets by tossing Djokovic under the bus and then decides the guy is just digging himself a grave.
After his thermometer cooled off, Djokovic talked about his outburst.
"Unfortunately, Andy made a statement," Djokovic said. "I don't think it was intentional. I don't blame it on him. I did react on the court. Maybe I reacted bad in that moment. I apologize. It was impulsive. I made maybe a mistake by saying that in front of 20,000 people in his city and his favorite tournament."Roddick, always quick to make the best point, humbly replied.
"I decided to make light of the situation. I'm sorry he took it that way. I don't think I was over the line. It wasn't my intention. Maybe I did him a favor tonight."Actually, the favor you did him was getting broke in the fourth when serving for the set. It also could have been the 37 unforced errors. No, I'm going with the fact that you, the best server in the world, had as many aces, 15, as this goofball. Yep, that's the one.


Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-05-2008 @ 12:43PM
Yellow said...
Shane bacon.... pls don't talk about tennis, Djokovic is ten times the player Roddick is... Djokovic has the right to talk smack about roddick.... Djokovic knows his role, notice how he doesn't say anything about Federer.
It's like Roy Williams talking smack to Randy Moss.... You just don't do it.... cause on Roddick's best day and Djokovic's worse, he's still gonna stomp out roddick.
Silly Americans... Stop trying to talk about international sports like tennis, football..... just stick to what you know
Reply
9-05-2008 @ 1:38PM
shonday said...
Yes, Bacon clearly doesn't know his tennis. That doesn't mean you get to generalize that somehow all Americans don't know anything about tennis. Roddick actually played pretty well in the third and fourth set, but then he choked trying to send it to a fifth. He's known to do that. I would vehemently disagree that on Roddick's best day and Novak's worst day Roddick would get crushed. He's already beaten Djokjovic this year, so maybe you should stick to what YOU know, and keep your prejudice to yourself
9-05-2008 @ 1:40PM
Craigo said...
Actually, Djokovic talked smack about Federer before Wimbledon, and then proceeded to lose in the second round. It's incredibly hypocritical of him to go after Roddick the way he did. Neither of the two has demonstrated much sportsmanship.
Reply
9-05-2008 @ 2:00PM
bigflyer said...
American tennis is in the doldrums. There simply are no excellent players capable on the world stage of mirroring the likes of McEnroe, Connors, Ashe, Evert, Billy Jean King.
The world sport now is based on eastern European excellence.
Roddick has a serve and a big mouth, not much else. He pumped up Djokjovic by the needling about his "injuries" and wondered why the guy smoked him in the first two sets last night.
The NYC crowd behaved badly as usual by yelling in Djokjovics service toss and booing him at the conclusion.
CBS should not wonder why the ratings suck so badly.
Reply
9-05-2008 @ 3:30PM
shonday said...
Yes, there were a couple times where the crowd behaved badly during Djokovic's serves, but for the most part they just cheered for Roddick. The booing is TOTALLY Djok's fault though. He brought it on himself and he completely deserved it. The guy is known for imitating other players and kidding around, so it's a little ridiculous that he can't take it too.