John McEnroe slammed for 'despicable' and 'disrespectful' comment after Novak Djokovic loss at US Open

American tennis legend John McEnroe was criticized for his tactless approach to one of the greatest upsets in US Open history. 

During Sunday's first-round action in Flushing Meadows, four-seed Novak Djokovic was forced into a five-set thriller against World No. 49 Mariano Navone.

Going late into the night, the Argentine Navone was able to come back down two sets to one to force a decisive final set where he cruised to victory over a physically struggling Djokovic.

The 39-year-old and 24-time Grand Slam winner had never lost in the opening round of the US Open in his career until Navone defeated him 7-6 (5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 on Arthur Ashe.

While his ESPN colleague Chris Fowler attempted to summarize such a momentous occasion, McEnroe offered a rather sarcastic and dismissive view of Navone's achievement.

As Fowler opined about the 'euphoric, thrilling, unbelievable moment' for Navone, McEnroe retorted that the Argentine would be 'playing your second round on Court 21.'

McEnroe, the four-time US Open winner, continued: 'We wish you the best. And he's gonna have to try and play with that effort, intensity, but enjoy the moment, young man.'

But the follow up seemed too-little, too-late for some tennis fans on social media who slammed him for his lack of impartiality: 'McEnroe's entire attitude towards Navone was despicable from the jump,' wrote one user on X.

Another said: 'McEnroe was disrespectful to Navone from the beginning. In the first set he says how great of an opponent Navone is for Djokovic because he won't challenge him at all. Dude is a tired act, [Chris] Eubanks or [John] Isner would be significantly better on the call moving forward.'

One user simply wrote: 'I am so f***ing tired of John McEnroe.' 

A weary and ailing Djokovic was struggling throughout the four-hour, 36-minute match, which was his longest first-round battle ever.

'I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me,' said Djokovic. 'It's something that I've been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year—vomiting, throwing up, serious issue there. And then my whole body starts to collapse, basically, cramping and pain.

'Yeah, the back just gave up in the end, and the shoulder, and I couldn't close it out. I was a break up in the fourth, but just struggled all the way, since the fourth game of the match.'

As for Navone, he hailed his victory as a 'dream come true' and will play the winner of the match between Matteo Berrettini and Stan Wawrinka.