Novak Djokovic has hit back once again at the American pundit.

Novak Djokovic has taken aim at John McEnroe. (Image: Getty.)

Novak Djokovic claims that he was “provoked” by the likes of John McEnroe, who accused him of exaggerating his injury at the Australian Open.

The Serb rallied to claim an emphatic victory over Carlos Alcaraz in Melbourne last month, but some were of the opinion that there was more than meets the eye as Djokovic received treatment during their quarter-final clash.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine,” McEnroe said on commentary during the match on ESPN. “Don’t be fooled.”

When asked by his brother and co-commentator Patrick McEnroe if John “saw this coming” he simply replied: “Yes.”

McEnroe’s argument was given more ammunition when Djokovic came through the match and returned to court to take on Alexander Zverev, only for the 10-time Aus Open champion to retire injured and post his MRI results on social media.

“Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there,” Djokovic wrote in a pointed dig at McEnroe, alongside a picture that confirmed a hamstring tear.

Now set to return to action for the first time since, at the Qatar Open, Djokovic explained why he publicly hit back at McEnroe.

Novak Djokovic was forced to call a premature end to his Australian Open. (Image: Getty)

“Well, I was provoked by the fact that several times in a row, as long as I was in Australia, I was injured on the 21st and the 23rd,” Djokovic said in Doha.

“I can’t say everyone, but I felt a fairly large group of people thought that it was not true and that my injuries were actually some kind of provocation on my part or to play strategic mental games with my opponents. And I would not have reacted if some legends of our sport had not reacted.

“I think that when some things remain on social media, that’s fine, but when it escalates to the point where people have a dilemma and simply question my integrity and the credibility of what I said.

“Especially when it comes from some people who are really legends of the sport and who have a multi-million audience that listens to them when they broadcast the matches, then I felt the need to react, to show the recording from the MRI.”

Djokovic will take on Italian star and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in his first-round Qatar Open tie.

He hasn’t played at the event for seven years, having won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, headlining a star-studded field.

Should Djokovic overcome Berrettini, as he did in 2021 during the 2021 SW19 showpiece, he books a clash with either Jan-Lennard Struff or Tallon Griekspoor and is crucially on the same side of the draw as top seed Alcaraz.

Djokovic will take on Italian star and former Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in his first-round Qatar Open tie.

He hasn’t played at the event for seven years, having won back-to-back titles in 2016 and 2017, headlining a star-studded field.

Should Djokovic overcome Berrettini, as he did in 2021 during the 2021 SW19 showpiece, he books a clash with either Jan-Lennard Struff or Tallon Griekspoor and is crucially on the same side of the draw as top seed Alcaraz.