Novak Djokovic won the 2023 Australian Open, despite a left hamstring injury, which he suffered during the Adelaide ATP semi-final against Daniil Medvedev. Tournament director Craig Tiley revealed that Nole played with a 3cm tear in his thigh.
After winning the “Happy Slam”, the Serb has not returned to give news about his state of form. During a live on Instagram, his sports coach Marco Panichi revealed that he would soon fly to Belgrade to prepare for the next tournament with Novak.
As reported by the Serbian journalist Sasa Ozmo, this could mean that Djokovic has recovered from the injury and that he will play the ATP 500 in Dubai (scheduled from February 27 to March 4). The prestigious tournament in the United Arab Emirates was also due to host Rafael Nadal, but the Spaniard suffered a second-degree ileus-psoas injury during the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic started the season in the best possible way, winning the tenth Australian Open of his career and returning to the top of the ATP rankings. The Serbian phenomenon only lost one set on the street at Melbourne Park, confirming that he has a very special feeling about this tournament.
In addition to having ousted Carlos Alcaraz from the throne, the 35-year-old from Belgrade has equaled his eternal rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the historic Grand Slam rankings. Novak will go hunting for overtaking already at Roland Garros, scheduled for the end of May on the clay of Paris.
Given Rafa’s conditions, many believe that Djokovic can once again aspire to the Grand Slam on the calendar. Goran Ivanisevic’s player already touched this titanic feat in 2021, when he stayed just one victory from the finish line.
Nakajima slams Nole Djokovic
Novak Djokovic’s tendency to find himself embroiled in controversies has a negative impact on his marketability, according to Nike’s former long-term tennis director Mike Nakajima. “He could well be the most successful tennis player ever.
But there’s always a dark cloud around him. It’s like he brings it upon himself,” reads an excerpt from the book attributed to Nakajima. “He hits the lineswoman at the US Open and gets disqualified? It happens, I guess.
But why does it always happen to Novak? Or the whole controversy about the Covid-19 vaccination,” Nakajima was quoted as saying. “Now, as a brand: do I want to be behind somebody who always has controversy around him? Or do I want to go with an athlete with a squeaky clean image?”
