Novak Djokovic (Toe-kovic?) called for a trainer while trailing Stan Wawrinka three games to one in the fourth set of the US Open Final. The announcers, including brothers John and Patrick McEnroe, believed the World No. 1 was suffering from cramps, which aren’t an ailment that allows a player to summon the trainer. Treatment in mid-match instead requires an “acute” medical emergency. But Djokovic was given a break — a six-minute-plus break — as a trainer came out and treated his toes. The trainer taped them. The break was granted before Wawrinka’s service game — Djokovic wasn’t even made to wait for his own serve, and the changeover.
Patrick McEnroe, who has seen numerous players call the trainer for cramps while claiming to suffer from a different injury, left little doubt that he thought Djokovic had just done the same — in order to rest and preserve his chances of winning the finals. McEnroe called what Djokovic did a “complete abuse of the rules.” Djokovic was captured on camera saying “Stan, sorry,” while getting his toes treated. Wawrinka said nothing in reply, just gave a thumb’s up as in what else am I going to say? Wawrinka won the service game that followed, then the match: 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 6-3. He is the 2017 US Open champion.
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