Novak Djokovic has sparked worry among tennis fans after being spotted limping at the airport in Doha – just days after his loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Qatar Open.
The Serb, in a video captured by Diario AS, appeared significantly impacted by a limp as he entered an airport in Doha.
It comes on the back of a hamstring muscle tear that caused him to retire mid-match from his semi-final encounter at the 2025 Australian Open against Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic lost back-to-back matches for the first time since early 2022, after being knocked out by Matteo Berrettini in his opening match at the 2025 Qatar Open – with the Italian winning 7-6(4), 6-2.
“I didn’t have any pain or discomfort in that sense. I was outplayed by just a better player today,” said the 24-time Grand Slam champion during his post-match press conference.
“Yes, I wasn’t at my desired level, and it could be that I’m still not moving the way I want to move, but, I mean, I played without pain, so there is no excuse in that.
“He was just the better player. I think he played a masterclass match, to be honest, tactically, and served very well, so just a very deserved win from his side.”
Djokovic also partnered up with Fernando Verdasco in the men’s doubles category at the Qatar Open, which marked the Spaniard’s last event of his professional career.
The pair were victorious during their first test – dominating Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik – before falling to Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara 7-5, 6-4 in their next match. The tennis superstar seemed unaffected by discomfort or pain during his doubles contests.
Novak Djokovic is next scheduled to participate at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, March 5 – March 16.
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¡Djokovic abandona Doha cojeando!
AS @diarioas cazó al tenista serbio con una ligera cojera a su llegada al Aeropuerto de Doha pese a que dijo que no sintió dolor en su partido de individual y en el dobles con Verdasco
@JaimeDavila_ en Doha pic.twitter.com/WWihGjq89w— As Más Deporte (@As_MasDeporte) February 21, 2025
The concerning video also arrived amid a sequence of honest comments from Djokovic on the increasing frequency of injuries, as he continues to age.
“I don’t know. There is a chance. Who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes,” the world No 7 stated after his Australian Open retirement, on whether he will end his career in 2025.
“I want to keep going, but whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure. I normally like to come to Australia and play and I’ve had the biggest success in my career here.
“So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance [it is the last time], yeah.”
Djokovic added: “Injury is the biggest enemy of a professional athlete. In the past I managed certain injuries, like the one you mentioned a few years ago that to some extent even helped me even play better and win the tournament (the 2023 Australian Open).”
At Roland Garros in 2024, the Serb tore the medial meniscus in his right knee during his match against Francisco Cerundolo – before undergoing surgery. Unable to play his quarter-final clash against Casper Ruud, the three-time former champion withdrew from the tournament.
The post Fresh fears over Novak Djokovic’s injury after worrying video emerges appeared first on Tennis365.
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