Djokovic's apology for rage at Roddick

Published on Saturday 6 September 2008 00:01

NOVAK Djokovic said he overreacted to jokes about his long list of injuries when he lashed out at Andy Roddick after defeating the American on Thursday night to reach the semi-finals of the US Open.

"He made a joke and it was a misunderstanding," the third-seeded Serbian said after he had cooled off following an angry courtside outburst that brought boos from the Arthur Ashe Stadium crowd.

"Maybe I exaggerated and reacted bad in that moment. I apologise if I reacted like that. This was just impulsive."

Roddick had commented to the crowd courtside after his previous match on the assorted maladies cited by Djokovic, who complained about stomach, hip, ankle and breathing problems during his five-set win against Spain's Tommy Robredo. Roddick joked to reporters that anthrax, bird flu and SARS could be future complaints from the Serb.

"That's not nice anyhow to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and I am faking it," Djokovic said on court after a 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 victory set up a semi-final clash against four-times champion Roger Federer.

"I have nothing against anybody. Andy was saying that I have 16 injuries in the last match so obviously I don't, right? I am really happy playing against Roddick on his court and in his city in his favourite tournament so to win against him is a huge effort."

With the sell-out crowd packed around the Arthur Ashe Stadium court booing the Serb's post-match comments, Djokovic added: "Like it or not, it's like that. They (the crowd] are already against me because they think I am faking everything, so sorry."

Roddick also tried to defuse the issue in his post-match news conference. "It was completely meant in jest," the 2003 Open winner said. "I'm sorry he took it that way. There's nothing else to say. I don't think I was over the line. It wasn't my intention and I'm sorry he felt that way.

"Maybe I did him a favour tonight," Roddick added ruefully, suggesting he might have inadvertently fired up the Serb.

Other players in the past, including Roger Federer during a Davis Cup rubber, have accused Djokovic of stretching the rules that allow players to receive multiple medical breaks provided it was a new problem that needed to be treated by the trainer.

Roddick suggested another underlying current to disquiet in the locker room with Djokovic having last year entertained fans at Flushing Meadows with on-court parodies of tennis luminaries including Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova.

"I figure if you're going to joke and imitate other people and do the whole deal, then you should take it," Roddick said.