The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not competed since the 2025 Wimbledon Championships, where he was hampered by an injury during his semifinal defeat to Jannik Sinner. Djokovic subsequently skipped both the Canadian Open, as expected, and the Cincinnati Open, which raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike.
Instead of traveling to the U.S. early, the Serbian star chose to base his preparation in Portonovi, Montenegro. The location offers him a chance to train seriously while keeping him closer to his family in the lead-up to the final major of the season.
Since Wimbledon, Djokovic’s fitness status has remained uncertain. His struggles began after a fall in his quarterfinal clash with Flavio Cobolli, and while he pushed through to the semifinals, questions lingered about his recovery.
The latest concerns stem from a short video filmed in Portonovi. The clip shows a member of his team examining the 38-year-old’s knee as Djokovic flexes it, appearing visibly uncomfortable. Although his face was turned away at first, his grimace when shifting toward the camera left little doubt about the discomfort he was feeling.
He later requested balls to attempt serving but noticeably avoided pushing off with his legs—this suggests caution and an unwillingness to aggravate the issue further. The video, just over a minute long, offered no additional insight into the severity of the problem.
While it is impossible to draw firm conclusions from such limited evidence, the sight of Djokovic in pain will worry fans. With the US Open fast approaching, any setback in training could prove critical, particularly given his age and the physical demands of a two-week Grand Slam campaign.
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