Tennis: Djokovic takes the heat, Robredo and Roddick question Serb's injury struggles

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Tommy Robredo and Andy Roddick had some choice, but differing, words for Novak Djokovic and the supposed injury woes and ailments he's been suffering at the US Open.

After his defeat to the struggling Serb, Tommy was describing a big point in his post-match presser and said, "Also Novak was doing the show, that he was ‑‑ that he couldn't run." The Spaniard was then asked about the Serb's injuries and calls to the trainer:

Q. You sound like you don't believe Djokovic's ailments . Is that true?

TOMMY ROBREDO: That's not that I don't believe. I have pain, as well. I was running like hell and my feet were burning but I say nothing, no? I think that if you're not fit enough, then don't play. But after every time he was asking for a trainer, he was running like hell and he was making the shot, but he does what he does a lot of times. So I think we should take care a lot more of these things, because one thing is that if you fell down like I did, I can have blood and it's normal that trainer gets in because there's blood or whatever. But for having pain, I had pain, as well, all over my body because I think I run a lot more than him, and I said nothing, no?

So did I trust him? No. No. I think he took his time because he did it because he was a little bit more tired and that's a part of the game. It help him a lot.

Ouch! However, Nole's quarterfinal opponent, A-Rod, had a slightly different spin on the same issue:

Q. When asked about [Nole's] injuries today, mentioning the right ankle as opposed to the left ankle, the other day ‑‑

ANDY RODDICK: Isn't it both of them? And a back and a hip?

Q. And when he said there are too many to count.

ANDY RODDICK: And a cramp.

Q. Do you get the sense right now that he is...

ANDY RODDICK: Bird flu.

Q. Lot of things. Beijing hangover.

ANDY RODDICK: Yeah.

Q. He's got pretty long list of illness.

ANDY RODDICK: Anthrax. SARS. Common cough and cold.

Q. Got a lot of things going on with him.

ANDY RODDICK: Sure.

Q. Do you think he's bluffing?

ANDY RODDICK: No, I mean, I'm sure ‑‑

Q. The way you're saying it, almost means you feel like...

ANDY RODDICK: No, if it's there, it's there. There's just a lot. You know, he's either quick to call a trainer or he's the most courageous guy of all time. I think it's up for you guys to decide.

Hysterical. C'mon guys, you can't take it so seriously or let it affect your game.

We all know Nole has a history of on-court antics and ailments. But he's not the first baller to stretch the rules, and he certainly won't be the last.

I'd take A-Rod's humorous response over Tommy's cranky call any day.