John McEnroe claimed Novak Djokovic could end up like Tiger Woods due to his wife

John McEnroe once expressed concerns that Novak Djokovic could face challenges similar to Tiger Woods due to his marriage. This speculation resurfaced after Djokovic was seen in a heated exchange with his wife, Jelena Djokovic, during his French Open fourth-round match against Francisco Cerundolo. The incident occurred on Monday, as Djokovic, battling a knee injury, had an animated discussion with Jelena after making an error.

In a post-match interview, Djokovic downplayed the incident, saying, “I had a small exchange of smiles with Jelena. She is my new psychologist.” Despite his explanation, this isn’t the first time their relationship has attracted attention.

Back in 2017, tennis legend John McEnroe suggested that Djokovic’s decline in performance might be linked to personal issues, drawing a parallel to the troubles Tiger Woods faced after his 2010 split from his wife, Elin Nordegren. McEnroe remarked, “The person that comes to mind immediately with Novak is not a tennis player, it’s actually a golfer: Tiger Woods. Woods had issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails. He’s never been even close to being the same player. So we’re starting to say: ‘Wait a minute, is this possible with him, Djokovic?'”

Djokovic was quick to dismiss McEnroe’s comments, asserting, “He’s very well known for his kind of bold comments and not really caring too much about being politically correct but saying whatever is on his mind. He has his right to say the things he wants to say. I don’t necessarily need to agree with that. But it’s his right.” Djokovic acknowledged the difficulties his wife faces being in the spotlight with him.

In 2021, Djokovic reflected on their relationship, saying, “She runs with the wolf. It can be very stressful to run with the wolf. I know that she doesn’t enjoy it at all times. It’s kind of living on the edge with the wolf. I love her, she’s my great support.”