With the Australian Open just days away uncertainty surrounds Novak Djokovic after fresh fitness issues emerged during practice in Melbourne. The Serbian tennis icon has sparked concern following a shortened training session that has left fans and experts questioning his readiness for the first Grand Slam of the season.
Djokovic trained twice on Wednesday at Melbourne Park after not playing a competitive match since November. His first session on Rod Laver Arena against Daniil Medvedev appeared encouraging as the pair engaged in long rallies and competitive points with no visible discomfort. However the situation changed later in the day when Djokovic stepped onto Court 10 to practice with Czech player Jiri Lehecka.
The second session ended abruptly after only 12 minutes when Djokovic appeared to experience pain in his neck. Struggling to serve he called over his long time physiotherapist Miljan Amanovic and received on court treatment for several minutes. The practice did not resume raising immediate concerns about his physical condition less than a week before the Australian Open begins.
These worries follow Djokovic’s recent withdrawal from the Adelaide International where he cited a lack of acclimatisation and physical readiness. The 24 time Grand Slam champion has been managing his schedule carefully after winning the Hellenic Championship in Greece on November 8 and then taking an extended break from competitive play.
Djokovic is currently scheduled to play an exhibition match against Frances Tiafoe on Thursday the same day the men’s singles draw for the Australian Open is set to be revealed. Whether he will be able to compete at full intensity remains unclear as fans await updates on his condition.
A ten time Australian Open champion Djokovic is chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam title but has not lifted a major trophy since his US Open victory in 2023. Last season he reached the semifinals of all four majors but fell short against younger rivals including Alexander Zverev Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Former Wimbledon champion Pat Cash believes Djokovic’s path to another title depends heavily on early exits from the current generation of stars. He suggested that defeating both Alcaraz and Sinner in back to back five set matches would be extremely challenging at this stage of Djokovic’s career. Cash also highlighted the fine balance Djokovic must strike between training hard enough to endure long matches and avoiding injuries that could derail his campaign.
As the Australian Open approaches all eyes remain on Djokovic’s fitness and whether the champion known for overcoming adversity can once again find solutions when it matters most.
