Novak Djokovic had a complicated round-one matchup at the 2024 Australian Open, and it might have had something to do with his health.
Ever since the United Cup and the match against Jiri Lehecka, Djokovic has dealt with a wrist injury. It wasn't a huge problem as he played down concerns immediately, but there were some worries about how he'd perform.
In the first match, he seemed fine, even though Djokovic sprayed unforced errors in a very uncharacteristic way. He simply seemed off and not focused enough for much of the match, which his opponent used to extend the match to four sets and four hours.
After the match, Djokovic revealed what could be the culprit behind his 'absent' focus, and it's because he's feeling a bit 'under the weather.' That's certainly not enough to knock out a good athlete, but it can impact him.
"Yeah, I am a bit under the weather last, yeah, four, five days. You can probably judge by my voice. Look, it is what it is. You just have to try to deal with it and get over it and accept the circumstances and try to make the most of it."
Djokovic wouldn't just ignore his opponent as he praised Dino Prizmic for his effort and the way he confidently fought on the court. The Croatian certainly didn't disappoint and took it to Djokovic quite often.
Realistically, though, it was the Serbian who kept his opponent in play for longer, as he couldn't reach his best level.
"I mean, I had an amazing opponent tonight. For an 18-year-old, he played so maturely and confidently on the court, fighting through, not giving up even when he was four down in the fourth set."
A win is a win, but this has already been quite a complicated event for Djokovic. Fans are hopeful that things will get simpler, but it's unlikely with two separate health issues at the same time.
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