Novak Djokovic responds to John McEnroe's 'Tiger Woods of Tennis' remark

Novak Djokovic brushed aside John McEnroe's suggestion that he is the Tiger Woods of tennis, saying he disagrees with the comparison but takes it "lightly".

McEnroe, commentating for the BBC, compared former World No.1 Djokovic with troubled golfer Woods, who has faced accusations of infidelity, had a high-profile divorce, been arrested, and suffered problems with prescription medication since he dominated the sport.

Djokovic's form has suffered since he completed a career Grand Slam last year, amid self-confessed problems in his personal life and a loss of desire and focus.

McEnroe, 58, said: "The person that comes to mind immediately with Novak is not a tennis player, it's actually a golfer: Tiger Woods.

"When he [Woods] had the issues with his wife and then he seemed to go completely off the rails and has never been even close to being the same player."

Speaking after a dominant straight-sets victory over Adam Pavlasek in the second round at Wimbedon, Djokovic responded to the controversial American.

"John has a complete right to say that," the Serbian said. "Anybody has a right to say what they want, and I respect that right. Especially coming from John, because he's someone that has earned that right because of who he is and what he has meant to the sport and what he still is representing as a former player and still being very active on the tour.

"And he's very well known for his bold comments and not really caring too much about being politically correct but saying whatever is on his mind.

"That's all I can say. I really don't take anything personally. I always got along very well with John. Whether that's his opinion or criticism or something else, I'm not really sure. But in the end of the day, I respect everything he says.

"We even practised a few years ago before one of my matches in US Open, and was always talking nicely about me. I don't necessarily need to agree with that. But it's his right."

"When I was warming up for my first match on the Centre Court, he was giving an intro, talking to the camera, and I served and the serve went straight at him as I was playing. Maybe it's because of that," added a smiling Djokovic. "Maybe he thought it wasn't a joke, and I was joking, I was trying to hit him.

"I take it very lightly. I don't think there was any kind of really wrong intention from his side towards me."