When Roddick almost smashed Djokovic after having 'pants beaten off' at US Open

Retired American tennis player Andy Roddick has revealed that he and Novak Djokovic almost came to blows in a locker room bust-up during the 2008 US Open in New York.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Roddick disclosed that he pinned Djokovic up against a locker in the US Open dressing room after Djokovic 'beat the pants off him' in a match between the two at the final major championship of the ATP tennis season.

The American said that he would not say the player's name but that it just rhymes with Schmovak Schmokovic, adding that he was him self kind of talking trash and then Djokovic came out and beat the pants off him as he would.

However, he said that later Djokovic kind of chirped and came straight in, adding that he went right up to him and had him against the locker but realized that his trainer was about a little bit bigger.

Roddick, who retired in September after the US Open, said he stopped when he realised the confrontation might escalate, the report said.

Roddick is a former world number one tennis player whose only major championship came at the 2003 US Open, the report added.

Serbia's Djokovic, who is one of the most well-liked players on the ATP Tour, has six grand slam titles, including four Australian Open crowns, according to the report.