Novak Djokovic Addresses Injury Concerns After His Doubles Match In Doha
NewsTuesday, 18 February 2025 at 07:30
Novak Djokovic already played a doubles match at the 2025 Qatar Open in Doha, and he addressed the concerns surrounding his previous injury after the match.
Djokovic teamed up with Fernando Verdasco in Doha. It will be the Spaniard's last-ever professional event, which is why the two joined forces on the doubles court. In their first match at the ATP 500 event, the duo beat Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov 6-1, 6-1.
It was a very impressive win from Djokovic and Verdasco and one that suggested that the 24-time Grand Slam champion is very likely at the peak of his powers. Only recently, the Serbian player was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open, but now he's in Doha, ready to compete.
The 37-year-old spoke to the media after his doubles win alongside Verdasco. Djokovic admitted that he didn't feel any pain on the court, so he feels ready to make his return in singles.
"I haven't felt any pain, so I've been feeling great training the past 10 days, and past three days here in Doha. Today's doubles match, obviously it's different from singles, but it's still a match, and you do have very dynamic movements that you have to do on the court, where you kind of test your body and how it feels. It felt great, so I have no concern."
"I obviously focused mostly on my recovery of the muscle tear that I had. I recovered very well, then I started to train. So I've been training tennis, I've been training for the past 10 days or so. I did quite a bit of fitness, and spent time with my family in my country, and here I am."
Djokovic also admitted that he likes competing in Doha. Every time he played in the city, the Serbian player reached at least the quarter-finals, and he's even a two-time champion in Doha.
"I always enjoyed myself here. The tournament was played in the first week of the season, prior to Australia, so it was actually a great week for all of us preparing for Australian Open, and flying to Australia through Doha."
Not only does Djokovic feel ready to compete, but he also feels nervous before his matches. According to the Serbian player, that is a good sign, as that means that he still has the competitive drive that he needs to succeed.
"I feel the cramps in my stomach before the every match. I'm stressed, I'm nervous, I'm excited. So, it's a good sign, because after all of these years of competing on the Tour and everything I achieved, I still feel that, I still feel the jitters."
"It's a good sign because I still care about doing this, and I feel and I hope that my active career that keeps going is also positively affecting the overall tennis ecosystem. I like to believe that. And hopefully inspiring younger generations to come and watch tennis, grab a tennis racquet, participate in our sport in any shape or form."
In his first singles match at the 2025 Qatar Open in Doha, Djokovic will play against Matteo Berrettini, who he beat in the final of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.
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