That proved a slight over reaction as Djokovic ultimately won in four sets, and did a bit of singing of his own.
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McEnroe cited his various media commitments as being a hindrance to his coaching duties with 25-year-old Canadian at Wimbledon, despite the world No. 6 making it all the way to his first grand slam final. Of course, this will be the first time they meet on hard court.
On his arm injury, Djokovic added: “It’s never easy to play at this level throughout the year”.
It’s hard to pinpoint anything specific he has or hasn’t done for such a result. He didn’t play again until the Olympics, where he lost the bronze medal match to Kei Nishikori.
He tried to change that on Tuesday afternoon (AEST) after his four-set win over Poland’s Jerzy Janowicz.
Dudi Sela was knocked out in the first round of a Grand Slam event for the fifth time in the past six tournaments on Monday, losing a five-set thriller to No. 18 seed Pablo Cuevas in the US Open in NY. That much was evident when he barely managed a smile after he’d sealed his win.
The 33-year-old, playing at Flushing Meadows for the 14th time, goes on to face Germany’s Carina Witthoeft.
In a matchup of American tennis present and future, 31-year-old John Isner rallied from being down two sets to edge 18-year-old Frances Tiafoe in the first round of the US Open on Monday.
Djokovic did his trademark dance moves after the victory and even mimicked singer Phil Collins, who sang before the match during the opening ceremonies.
Djokovic sent for the trainer only five games into the defence of his title and received lengthy treatment on his upper right arm and elbow.
When asked more about the nature of his injury, he commented, ‘I don’t think it’s necessary to talk about this now.
“I’m taking it day by day”.
Several times during the two hour, 37 minute match, Djokovic could be seen grimacing when hitting his powerful forehand, while his serve rarely looked threatening, stuck at around 100 mph.
And later in the match the Serb was routinely hitting first serves under 100mph. He flexed that right arm, the one he has used to wield a racquet on the way to his 12 grand slam titles, and appeared generally unhappy. He exited the Rio Olympics in the first round this month, then sat out the Cincinnati Masters because of a sore left wrist.
Muguruza carved out a gritty 2-6, 6-0, 6-3 win over Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens, ranked at 137.
Two-time US Open champion Rafael Nadal beat Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan 6-1 6-4 6-2 to progress to the next round.
Her path to a fourth round rematch against Johanna Konta, who beat the Spaniard in the second round previous year, was eased when Olympic gold medallist Monica Puig became the first notable casualty of the tournament.
24th seed Belinda Bencic and former Australian Open finalist Dominika Cibulkova also progressed, while Madison Keys rallied from a set down to defeat compatriot Alison Riske in a match that lasted just short of two-and-a-half hours.
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However, it was not so easy for Roland Garros victor Garbine Muguruza who needed a doctor and three sets to get past Belgian qualifier Elise Mertens.
