Recent reports indicate that Novak Djokovic ended one of his practice sessions early at the US Open, sparking concerns about a possible injury.
The Serbian tennis star, who clinched his fourth US Open title in 2023, is the second seed for this year’s tournament.
Djokovic, fresh from his historic gold medal win at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, had taken a significant break to recover physically, opting to skip the Masters 1000 events in Montreal and Cincinnati. His return to competitive play is now focused on the 2024 US Open, where he is seeded second in the men’s singles draw.
Before the tournament officially begins on August 26, Djokovic participated in the Stars of the Open event at Flushing Meadows on August 21. There, he played a men’s doubles exhibition match alongside John McEnroe, with the pair emerging victorious against Carlos Alcaraz and Andre Agassi.
Following this exhibition, Djokovic’s preparations for the Grand Slam intensified. On August 23, he had a practice session lined up with Danish player Holger Rune at Arthur Ashe Stadium. After a productive hour on one of the practice courts, Djokovic was set to continue his session at the main stadium. However, he reportedly experienced some discomfort and did not return to the court. His bags and team members were seen at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, but Djokovic was notably absent, according to the Danish publication TV 2 Sport.
Djokovic’s team informed Rune’s camp that Djokovic would be receiving treatment for the reported discomfort before the session at Arthur Ashe. Despite these efforts, Djokovic was unable to resume practice, raising concerns about his readiness for the upcoming tournament.
Scheduled to compete on the opening day of the main draw, August 26, Djokovic is set to face Moldovan qualifier Radu Albot. This match will mark the first encounter between Djokovic and Albot on the ATP Tour. Should Djokovic progress past Albot, he is expected to play against either compatriot Laslo Djere or Jan-Lennard Struff in the subsequent round.
Despite his impressive Olympic success, Djokovic has yet to secure a title in 2024, coming closest at Wimbledon, where he reached the final. So far this season, Djokovic has amassed 29 wins out of 36 matches, demonstrating his competitive form.
The recent developments regarding Djokovic’s practice sessions cast a shadow of uncertainty over his participation in the US Open. His fans and the tennis community are closely watching to see if he will fully recover in time for the tournament’s commencement. The outcome of his first-round match against Albot will be pivotal in assessing his readiness and potential for the rest of the tournament.
