WATCH: Djokovic Practicing With Protective Sleeve On Eve Of Australian Open Title Defense
Novak Djokovic completed his final pre-tournament practice session inside Rod Laver Arena while wearing a protective arm sleeve.
Djokovic, 36, is scheduled to open his title defense at the 2024 Australian Open against Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic in the first night session of the tournament on Sunday, January 14th. The Serb is the odds-on favorite to lift his 11th crown in a fortnight's time despite an injury scare at the United Cup.
Djokovic, who debuted at the mixed-team competition for his country, began experiencing discomfort in his wrist during the tie against the Czech Republic. By the time he faced Alex de Minaur in the quarterfinals, the problem became much more serious.
He lost his first match on Australian soil since 2018 against the new World No. 10, and the issue cast doubt on whether he would be operating at 100% during the year's first Grand Slam. In the aftermath of that defeat, he stated that he had ample time to recover from the injury.
In his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic provided a fresh update with an optimistic tone. The Serb confirmed that his wrist was "good" and that he accumulated multiple practice sessions that were "pain-free" and was pleased with how his preparation had gone so far.
During a practice session on Saturday, Djokovic had a protective sleeve covering his whole forearm up to the elbow, but it could just mean he was wearing it for precautionary purposes. It is not his first time training with an arm sleeve, although the timing is unusual.
Djokovic has stressed that he can't predict with certainty if the injury will recur during the tournament when "stress levels go higher." However, he has been in such a predicament before at the Australian Open.
He won the 2021 tournament having battled abdominal pain, and last year; it was revealed he played with a 3 cm hamstring tear en route to a 10th title despite constant speculation about the legitimacy of the injury.
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