One thing that has been a common feature for Novak Djokovic this season has been his tryst with injuries. The Serb hasn’t been in the best of physical shape this year which has prevented him from giving his best on the court. Take the example of the French Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion had to withdraw midway through the tournament owing to the knee injury that he suffered. Subsequently, he underwent surgery to repair the damage done. Weeks after that setback, Djokovic has suffered another scare, this time at the Paris Olympic Games.

Following his knee surgery, Djokovic is often spotted wearing a knee cap while playing on the court. He even did so during his Wimbledon campaign last month. The Serb is due to face Lorenzo Musetti of Italy later today in the Olympics semifinal. However, during a practice session ahead of that match, he was spotted wearing a heavier knee brace. Djokovic felt intense pain during his quarterfinal victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas and he didn’t want to take any chances. Thus, he put on a heavier knee brace as a precautionary measure.

Yesterday, Djokovic had a hard-fought win over Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6 (3). The Serb threw it all on the court for that victory and put his body on the line as a result. Subsequently, he even feared that his worst nightmare might come true.

Djokovic revealed, “I dug deep and found a way. Really glad that I managed to win the match. I had a scare early in the second set with the knee, kind of a deja vu from what happened a few months ago at Roland Garros, where I injured myself in a match, managed to finish the match victorious, but only to find out the next day that I tore my meniscus.” Nonetheless, Djokovic is optimistic that he could achieve his dream of winning the gold medal.

Novak Djokovic remains hopeful despite injury scare

The Serb has never won a gold medal at the Olympics. He came close to winning it in the 2008 Beijing Olympics but had to be content with a bronze medal. With this edition potentially being his last appearance at the Olympics, Djokovic is determined to go the extra mile despite his physical troubles.

During the post-match interview, he said, “Tomorrow night I think I’m playing a night match at seven, so I have some time to recover and get ready. Hopefully I’ll be able to be physically fit for the semis. I think even if [the medical staff] says that it’s not okay, I’ll probably get on the court and give it a try.”

Djokovic has been in good form lately and will be the favorite against Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals. Can he win the elusive gold medal at the Olympic Games? Let us know your views in the comments below.