Djokovic: ‘I Cannot Avoid Aging’

Djokovic: ‘I Cannot Avoid Aging’

Novak Djokovic, the holder of 24 Grand Slam titles, admitted that he cannot escape the increasing frequency of injuries as he approaches the age of 40.

“Recently, I have suffered more injuries compared to the first 15 years of my career,” Djokovic said in an interview with Vijesti of Montenegro on February 10. He acknowledged that his body is no longer as strong as before, but his passion for tennis remains intact.

Injuries Affecting Performance

At the Australian Open, Djokovic suffered a 3 cm thigh muscle tear, forcing him to withdraw from the semifinal match against Alexander Zverev. This injury occurred after his intense quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz, which featured numerous long rallies.

“The tear has almost fully healed,” the 37-year-old stated. “I have returned to training and am preparing for the Qatar Open. Right now, I am following the recovery plan set by my medical team. Fortunately, I can still recover quickly from each injury.”

Throughout 2024, Djokovic has been dealing with minor injuries and, for the first time in a decade, has not won any ATP Tour titles. Since winning the Olympic gold medal last year, his form has not been at its best. He suffered an early exit at the US Open, lost to Jannik Sinner in the Shanghai Masters final, and later withdrew from key tournaments at the end of the season, including the ATP Finals.

Chasing His 100th ATP Title

Since his last victory at the Paris Masters 2023, Djokovic has yet to reach the milestone of 100 ATP titles in his career. So far, only two legends, Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and Roger Federer (103 titles), have achieved this feat.

“I hope to win my 100th ATP title in Doha next week,” Djokovic said. “I’ve been chasing it for a long time and came very close in October last year. Maybe the right moment is about to come.” He previously won the Qatar Open twice in a row, in 2016 and 2017.

Collaboration with Andy Murray

According to Serbian media, Djokovic will continue his partnership with Andy Murray at least until after Wimbledon. The two players showed good chemistry at the Australian Open, especially in overcoming tough matches, including a comeback victory against Alcaraz in four sets.

Murray is expected to resume his coaching role, accompanying Djokovic at the Indian Wells Masters in March, followed by two major tournaments: Roland Garros and Wimbledon.