Novak Djokovic won the ustralian Open 2023, despite a left hamstring injury, which he sustained during the Adelaide ATP semifinal against Daniil Medvedev. On the sidelines of the Slam Down Under, tournament director Craig Tiley revealed that Nole played with a three-centimeter tear in his thigh.
After winning the Happy Slam, the Serbian has no longer provided updates on his form. During a live on Instagram, his athletic trainer 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 supposed to welcome Rafael Nadal, but the Spaniard sustained a second-degree injury to his ileo-psoas during the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic: from Melbourne to New York
Novak Djokovic started the season in the best possible way, winning his tenth Australian Open of his career and returning to the top of the ATP rankings. The Serbian phenomenon lost only one set on the street at Melbourne Park, confirming that he has a very special feeling with this tournament.
In addition to having ousted Carlos Alcaraz from the throne, the 35-year-old from Belgrade has hooked his eternal rival Rafael Nadal at the top of the all-time Grand Slam rankings. Nole will go hunting for overtaking already at Roland Garros, scheduled for the end of May on the red clay in Paris.
Given Rafa’s precarious conditions, many believe that Djokovic can once again aspire to the Calendar Grand Slam. Goran Ivanisevic’s player had already touched this titanic feat in 2021, when he stopped just one victory from the finish line.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will return to action in Dubai at the end of February, while his presence in Indian Wells and Miami remains uncertain. Novak has in fact requested a special permit to enter the United States.
