The tennis legend said Djokovic’s ability to deal with the “worst heat” is why he has become the greatest player of all time.
He’s like the Darth Vader compared to two of the classiest acts we’ve seen play tennis – Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
“Who can compare to them in terms of what they brought to the table? Nobody – and then this guy Djokovic spoils the party.
“So then how about respecting him after all this?
Djokovic spoke out against fans after his Wimbledon fourth-round win, claiming they used the bellowing of his opponent Holger Rune’s surname as “an excuse to boo”.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion insisted the noise – fans elongating the first vowel in Rune’s surname – was designed to wind him up.
McEnroe, who won seven singles majors, agreed with the 37-year-old Serb.
Asked by presenter Clare Balding on BBC TV about what he would say to Djokovic, the 65-year-old American said it would be: “Well done.”
McEnroe added: “Don’t you think there’s been at least 100 matches over the course of the last 10-15 years that Djokovic has been disrespected because of how good he is?
“What has he done that’s so bad? Name something. What is it, he wants it? He competes as hard as anyone who’s ever competed? Is it the look, where he’s from?
“He’s by far the guy who’s taken the worst heat and that’s why I would say he’s the greatest that’s ever played.”
Djokovic wore a mask of the Darth Vader character, a villain from the Star Wars sci-fi films, for his walk-on to a match in 2012, recalling in 2022 how “that was myself in the crazy, young days”.