Former World No. 1 Warns Djokovic About Recovery Time
Former World No. 1 Warns Djokovic About Recovery Time
Former world No. 1 doubles player Rennae Stubbs has warned that Novak Djokovic may take longer than expected to recover and return to competition.
Hamstring Injury Puts Djokovic at Risk of a Long Layoff
Djokovic’s 2025 season started promisingly, as he reached the Australian Open semifinals, reaffirming his dominance at Grand Slam tournaments. The Serbian star put on a strong performance against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, marking his 50th Grand Slam semifinal appearance.
However, his momentum was short-lived as Djokovic suffered a severe hamstring injury during the match. Despite attempting to push through in the semifinal against Alexander Zverev, he was forced to withdraw after just one set due to intense pain.
Following his withdrawal, Djokovic faced skepticism from experts and fans alike. To shut down doubts, he publicly shared an MRI scan, confirming that his hamstring tear was indeed serious.
Djokovic Could Be Sidelined for at Least Two Months
Due to this injury, Djokovic withdrew from Serbia’s Davis Cup team in their match against Denmark. Initially, many hoped that he would recover within a few weeks, but medical experts have indicated that his hamstring tear is quite severe, which could sideline him for at least two months.
If his recovery follows the expected timeline, Djokovic is likely to miss the ATP 500 Doha tournament at the end of February, as well as two major Masters 1000 events at Indian Wells and Miami. This means he may only return for the clay-court season, with the Monte Carlo Masters in April being his first possible comeback event.
In her latest podcast, Rennae Stubbs commented on Djokovic’s situation:
“He shared an MRI scan, and the hamstring tear looks quite large. This is truly a nightmare. With this type of injury, the minimum recovery time is six weeks, but it could extend to two months or more. Even though Djokovic has access to advanced recovery methods like hyperbaric oxygen therapy, it will still be very difficult for him to return quickly.”
Djokovic Faces a Challenging Season Ahead
Before the 2025 season began, Djokovic had expressed his desire to play more tournaments to maintain his form. 2024 was a tough year for him, as he failed to win a Grand Slam title, with his only major achievement being an Olympic gold medal in Paris.
Playing fewer matches has left Djokovic struggling with match rhythm, and this injury has only worsened the situation. His withdrawal from the Australian Open not only cost him a chance at another Grand Slam title but also significantly impacted his 2025 season plans.
Fans are hopeful that, with his relentless determination, the Serbian legend will make a strong comeback and continue adding to his incredible legacy.
