The meticulous preparation of tennis legend Novak Djokovic for the Australian Open has descended into chaos, with a worrying neck injury threatening his campaign for a historic 11th men's singles title at Melbourne Park.
Training Session Turmoil Raises Alarm
The 38-year-old world number four's participation appears to be hanging in the balance after a disrupted training session on Wednesday. Djokovic was seen on Rod Laver Arena with Daniil Medvedev, but reports indicated he looked out of sorts and was struggling.
Always the consummate professional, Djokovic returned to the court later in the afternoon, but his session lasted a mere 12 minutes. His physiotherapist, Miljan Amanovic, was forced to work extensively on the player's neck, which was notably hampering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's service motion.
Fitness Concerns Fuel Retirement Speculation
The injury casts a shadow over an already truncated pre-season for the Serbian star. He skipped last year's ATP Finals in Turin and this week's ATP 250 event in Adelaide, raising questions about his match readiness.
This physical setback has prompted prominent figures in the sport to speculate about Djokovic's future. Australian tennis great Mark Woodforde suggested that a poor result in Melbourne could precipitate his retirement.
'My opinion is that if he doesn't get a good result at the Australian Open, I wouldn't be surprised if he retired,' Woodforde told Tennis365. 'Mediocrity is not something you can put in the same sentence as Novak Djokovic. I think the ageing process, unfortunately, is catching up with Novak.'
Legends Question His Ability to Endure
Wimbledon champion Pat Cash echoed the sentiment, highlighting the delicate balance required at the end of a career. 'It's a fine line at the end of your career finding the point where you train hard enough to be fit and last two, even three, five-set matches, but not push too hard,' Cash said.
He added a stark assessment of Djokovic's chances against the new generation: 'I don't see him beating Alcaraz and Sinner in back-to-back five-set matches and that is his problem. He can get to the semi-finals again, but then he is likely to have a familiar problem.'
All eyes are now on Djokovic's scheduled exhibition match against Frances Tiafoe on Thursday, which will serve as a critical fitness test. The Australian Open itself begins on 18 January, where the sporting world will watch to see if the champion can once again defy the odds, or if time and injury have finally begun to dictate the terms.
