Novak Djokovic gave fans quite a scare after his comeback tournament in Doha following his hamstring injury at the Australian Open. Initially, he confirmed that the injury was “completely healed,” even sharing an MRI that had many worried he would be sidelined for weeks. It seemed like Djokovic was ready for battle, but the Qatar Open turned out to be a different story. He faced a surprising exit against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. Although fans noticed Novak limping after the match, he reassured them that he “didn’t have any pain or discomfort in that sense.” He’s not one to back down, still aiming for his 100th title or 25th Grand Slam, but former WTA star Andrea Petkovic remains cautious.

On February 18, just when we thought Djokovic was back on track, he suffered a shocking defeat against Berrettini. The match started with a nail-biting first set that went to a tiebreaker, but Berrettini turned up the heat in the second set, clinching it 7-6 (4), 6-2. It was a tough pill to swallow since Djokovic had never lost to Berrettini in their previous encounters. Recently, as per Tennis Uptodate, Petkovic discussed this on the Inside-In podcast, saying, “He seemed to be training really well and that’s sometimes the case when you come back from injury. Sometimes you’re already doing really well in training and you just need a little bit of time in competition.”

However, the former World No.9 isn’t too worried for him as she noted, “I’m not worried about Novak, I thought he played really well at the Australian Open. I think Carlos was outplayed by Novak in Australia.” Earlier at the Australian Open quarterfinals, Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling four-set battle that had fans on the edge of their seats at every moment. When it seemed like Carlos would reign victorious after clinching the first set and Novak needing an MTO, the Serb proved everyone wrong by winning the match with 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4!

After the match, Djokovic admitted he was physically fine and played without pain from his recent injury. However, he expressed disappointment in his performance, acknowledging that he hadn’t executed his game plan effectively. Petkovic summed it up: “So I’m not worried about Novak at all in terms of tennis; I’m just worried about his health.” At nearly 37 years old, health is a significant concern for Djokovic.

Unlike fellow legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who faced serious health issues leading to retirement, Djokovic has been known for his strength and fitness. Yet after a winless 2024 season and his recent withdrawal from the Australian Open semifinals against Alexander Zverev, even he acknowledges that his body might betray him sooner or later.

Novak Djokovic opens up about concerns with his body

In a candid post-match press conference following his unexpected loss to Berrettini at the Qatar Open, Djokovic opened up about his ongoing journey to improve as a player. “I am trying to improve my game, as everybody else. But my game is not going to change now drastically,” he stated, acknowledging the challenges he faces. He emphasized that while he might adjust his strategy based on the surface, the core of his game remains unchanged. Djokovic also touched on the increasing frequency of injuries, saying, “There are more injuries. Things are not the same as 10 years ago, 15 years ago.”

This defeat was particularly tough for Djokovic, who had just returned from a hamstring injury that forced him to retire during the Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev. He suffered a muscle tear that led him to withdraw, prioritizing his long-term health over pushing through the pain. Reflecting on his future, he expressed a sobering realization: “This is probably the new reality I have to accept—that my body will probably betray me more often than it has throughout my entire career.” This sentiment resonates with fans who remember similar struggles faced by legends like Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Despite these setbacks, Djokovic remains optimistic and determined. He noted that while this season has been rocky so far, there are still positives to take away from his experiences. “How much I’ll be able to put up with that and endure that, I honestly don’t know now,” he admitted. Yet, with a resilient spirit, he’s ready to keep competing on the ATP tour. After all, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?