Paris – Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta accused Novak Djokovic of gamesmanship during their French Open Quarter-final on Wednesday as he felt the world number one did not have any genuine health issues despite appearing to battle injury problems.
33-year-old Djokovic had his neck taped during the match on Court Philippe Chatrier and movements somewhat seemed restricted during the opening set against the world number 18.
Djokovic also called the trainer on court to work on some issues with his upper left arm.
But he recovered well to advance to the semi-finals with a 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4 victory and later said he had a to handle some physical issues during the early part of his match without providing much details.
“Each time he is in trouble he usually does it, that means to say that he was in trouble, that he wasn’t comfortable and that I was playing at a high level and was causing him to doubt himself,” said Carreno Busta.
“Every time a match gets complicated he asks for medical assistance. He has been doing this for a long time. I already knew that. I knew it would happen at the US Open, I knew it would happen here and I know it will keep on happening.
“I don’t know if it’s something chronic in his shoulder or just mental, but he didn’t put me off.”
“I don’t know, maybe it’s the pressure or something that he needs to do it. But he continues playing normal, no? I don’t know if he’s (in) pain really or he has mental (issues). Ask him,” said Carreno.
