Novak Djokovic is no stranger to adversity, but what unfolded at the Australian Open was nothing short of heartbreaking for his legion of fans. The Serbian Maestro, who was cruising through the tournament with his trademark brilliance, shocked everyone by withdrawing from the semi-finals due to a muscle tear. A player known for his resilience, this marked a rare and gut-wrenching halt in Djokovic’s seemingly unstoppable campaign. But as if the disappointment wasn’t enough, former ATP star Todd Woodbridge has stirred the pot with a rather grim take, comparing Djokovic to none other than Rafael Nadal.

The Serbian tennis sensation started facing significant physical challenges while playing Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. However, he managed to remain calm and composed and despite losing the first set, managed to emerge victorious in the four-setter match. But when he came out to play Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, he found himself grappling with intensified injuries and eventually decided to hand over the match to the German star after losing the first set. Now, Woodbridge has come out to compare the Serb with Nadal, highlighting that their injuries have troubled them similarly. 

Speaking on Wide World of Sports, the former Australian player said, “I think actually Novak needed this 18 months ago not quite now in terms of motivation because when we lost Rafa, it waned a little bit for him for a moment or two.” While he lauded his latest run, he did not fail to highlight that consistent injury issues can pose a significant challenge for him. “Last year it looked little more difficult to be inspired, to keep on the road. It’s tough to be out there for that long. And it looked like the start of this season he was ready to go again and now we have to find out you know how long he will be away.” Notably, this is not the first time recently when Djokovic had to withdraw from a Grand Slam due to his injuries. 

Playing against Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round of the French Open last year, Nole tore the medial meniscus of his right knee. Despite qualifying for the quarterfinals, he had to withdraw from the tournament as he decided to undergo surgery. Interestingly, Nadal also faced significant challenges just ahead of his retirement and it was nothing but a series of injuries. 

Rafael Nadal had a difficult 2023 owing to his repeated hip injuries. It started after he suffered a hip muscle injury at the Australian Open in January. While he made a return in Brisbane later that year, he struggled again with his injury during the match. Even last year, Rafa had to withdraw from the Indian Wells as well. And all these continuing injuries became a reason for him to announce his retirement. But here is where things get more interesting: While Djokovic has not talked anything about his retirement, the Serb seems to be acknowledging how his body is not listening to him anymore.

Novak Djokovic makes an emotional admission about physical issues

Novak Djokovic was not just playing to win a title but to win his 25th Grand Slam title. Hence, having to withdraw despite being in a sensational form is a hard pill to swallow for any athlete. But what caught the attention further was his honest admission about his challenges, as he highlighted how his physical struggles are only increasing. 

Speaking to the press after the match, the Serb said, “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.” Continuing further, he added that he is still unsure of how his season will look like amid health woes.

“How much I’ll be able to put up with that and endure that, I honestly don’t know now. Let’s see what happens this season. Here in Melbourne, it could have been better, but it could have been worse. I’m still a bit hot-headed, but there are certainly a lot of positives to take away from this tournament,” he added. 

Now, with concerns looming large, it will be interesting to see if Novak Djokovic can overcome yet another turbulent phase and win more accolades under his belt.