Andrea Petkovic, a former world No 9 tennis player, has voiced her apprehension over the health status of Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis legend. Djokovic, who is currently ranked as the world No 7, has been grappling with health issues that have clouded the early part of his 2025 tennis season.
Djokovic kicked off his 2025 season at the Brisbane International, where he was defeated in the quarter-finals by Reilly Opelka. In spite of his early exit, Djokovic demonstrated his prowess at the subsequent Australian Open, where he vanquished Tomas Machac, Jiri Lehecka, and Carlos Alcaraz to reach the semi-finals.
However, the Serbian ace’s journey was cut short due to a hamstring tear, which he sustained during his quarterfinal encounter with Alcaraz. The injury led to his withdrawal after the first set in his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev. Despite this setback, the 37-year-old showed remarkable resilience, making a swift recovery within three weeks to compete in the Qatar Open.
Unfortunately, his comeback was marred by a straight-set defeat to Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the ATP 500 tournament in Doha. This marked Djokovic’s first loss in the opening round at a hard-court event since the 2018 Miami Open, leaving his 2025 record at 7-3.
Now, Djokovic is on the hunt to secure his 25th Grand Slam title and his 100th ATP singles title. His last major win was at the 2023 US Open, while his most recent victory was at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In an episode of the Inside-In podcast from Tennis Channel, Petkovic weighed in on Djokovic’s return to the court post-injury. She expressed concern over the timing of his comeback, suggesting that it might have been too soon given the severity of his muscle tear.
Petkovic explained, “Novak, we don’t know when he was able to start practising with that muscle tear he had in his thigh. So maybe a bit early, the comeback”. She further elaborated that Djokovic’s performance at the Australian Open was impressive, particularly his match against Carlos Alcaraz. She dismissed the notion that Alcaraz’s performance was subpar, instead attributing Djokovic’s success to his superior skill level.
Despite her concerns over his health, Petkovic remains confident in Djokovic’s tennis capabilities, even going as far as vowing never to question his prowess again. In a blog post on Substack, she wrote, “Whoever doubts Novak’s tennis ever again, whether Novak’s 37 years old or 55 years old, should from this day forth be punished with perpetual silence. Yes, I’m talking about myself.”
Petkovic’s admiration for Djokovic’s play at the Australian Open was evident as she praised his ability to compete with younger players and maintain a high level of consistency in his performance. She noted his ability to adapt his game with age, hitting the ball harder, changing directions more frequently, yet remaining undetectable to his opponents.
While Djokovic’s fans and fellow players await updates on his health, it is clear that his talent and drive continue to inspire awe and respect in the world of tennis.