WATCH: Novak Djokovic Appears With Massive Injury Worry Ahead Of US Open

Novak Djokovic's chances of succeeding at the 2025 US Open have been thrown into doubt after he was videoed in pain during a practice session.

The tennis legend decided to take an extended break from playing tournaments after the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. He withdrew from the 2025 Canadian Open, which was expected, but his withdrawal from the 2025 Cincinnati Open caused more surprise.

Rather than traveling to Cincinnati, Djokovic decided to train at Portonovi, Montenegro, in preparation for the final Grand Slam of 2025. That destination allows him to be closer to his family while also training seriously.

Djokovic's exact physical condition since Wimbledon has been unclear. The seven-time champion at SW19 was hampered by an injury in the semifinal against Jannik Sinner after falling during his quarterfinal against Flavio Cobolli.

The clip of Djokovic in Portonovi indicated a new problem. It begins with someone from his team looking at the 38-year-old's knee while he stretches it up and down, creating an immediately worrying scene.

Although Djokovic's face was turned away from the person filming during the first 12 seconds, he seemed to be in obvious discomfort. His concern became more apparent when he turned nearer the camera.

Djokovic then asks someone off-screen for balls to try serving. That was done without pushing through with his legs, indicating that the 24-time Grand Slam champion feared making the issue worse.

The one-minute clip revealed no other details. Based on the fleeting evidence in the video, it is impossible to make any definitive judgments about the severity of Djokovic's issue.

However, it is still a cause for concern. The former ATP world No. 1 traveled to Portonovi in an attempt to train in the ideal conditions ahead of the US Open. Any discomfort in practice, especially at his age, is worrying.

Hopefully, the clip is just a false alarm. Djokovic is the most meticulous person in tennis history when it comes to managing his body, stretching multiple times a day. Best-case scenario, he was just being cautious.

Djokovic was among several players to be announced for the US Open's new mixed doubles format, scheduled for August 19th and 20th. He and compatriot Olga Danilovic were among the confirmed pairs.

Although no one from his team has made an announcement, Djokovic's participation in the Mixed Doubles seems unlikely. At this late stage of his career, he values being fit and ready for the Grand Slams more than anything.

The most statistically successful player ever will take no chances if there is even a slight risk of him making an issue worse in the mixed doubles, even though the format means short matches are guaranteed.

Jannik Sinner's partner, Emma Navarro, withdrew from the mixed doubles and accepted a wild card into the 2025 Monterrey Open instead. Aryna Sabalenka will not be involved because her partner, Grigor Dimitrov, is injured and is not interested in partnering with anyone else.