Novak Djokovic was aiming for the Australian Open title, but an injury forced him to retire in the middle of his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev. The 24-time Grand Slam champion remained a strong contender, especially after eliminating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.
Even during his match against the Spaniard, Djokovic showed signs of physical discomfort, which ultimately took its toll as he could only play one set against the world No. 2 German. While some experts questioned the severity of his injury, Nole later shared an X-ray on social media, confirming a muscle tear.
For now, it has been confirmed that Djokovic has withdrawn from Serbia’s Davis Cup tie against Holger Rune’s Denmark. Shortly after, it was also revealed that he would skip the Middle East swing, ruling him out for the entire month of February. However, reports from Tennis World USA suggest that he might also miss the Sunshine Double in March.
The severity of his injury would at least prevent him from playing at Indian Wells, and according to the specialist site, he is also expected to withdraw from the Miami Open, which starts in mid-March. This means Djokovic’s most likely return will be during the European clay-court swing in April.
Nole’s probable first tournament back would be the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he has won two titles, back in 2013 and 2015. It remains the most elusive Masters 1000 event for Djokovic, considering Rafael Nadal’s dominance there for nearly 15 years (11 titles). Monte-Carlo is the only Masters 1000 tournament that Djokovic has not won at least three times.
Djokovic’s main focus will be on the French Open, and given the severity of his injury, he is unlikely to rush his comeback. This is especially true considering the surface transition, as the clay season serves as preparation for Roland Garros, where he has claimed three titles (96-16 record).
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