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Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will be fit to compete at the Qatar Open next week, having nearly recovered from the hamstring injury that plagued his Australian Open campaign. The 37-year-old Serbian tennis star was forced to retire during his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev last month, after suffering the injury in his quarter-final clash with Carlos Alcaraz.
The Australian Open ended in controversy for Djokovic, with the player retiring from the match after the first set, leading to boos from the crowd. Many fans were disappointed, citing the high cost of tickets—up to $1000—only to witness less than an hour of play. Djokovic later revealed that the hamstring injury was more severe than the one he sustained during his 2023 Australian Open victory, posting a scan that showed a tear in the muscle after some had downplayed the extent of the injury.
Initial reports speculated that Djokovic could be sidelined for up to two months, with some even suggesting that he might not compete again until the French Open. However, Djokovic’s swift recovery has surprised many, and he is now ready to make his return after just three weeks. The 23-time Grand Slam champion is focused on achieving a historic milestone: his 100th ATP title.
“There is no more rupture in the muscle, the injury is almost 100 percent healed,” Djokovic told in an interview published on Monday. “I have the green light from the medical team to train and prepare. The tournament in Doha is scheduled for next week, and I’m sticking to that schedule. I managed to recover quickly. While I’ve had more injuries in recent years, my body still responds well, and my desire for new achievements remains strong.”
Djokovic is aiming to add the Qatar Open to his list of career titles, having won in Doha in 2016 and 2017. With a win, he would become just the third player in the Open Era to capture 100 singles titles, joining the ranks of Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and Roger Federer (103 titles). Djokovic has been chasing this milestone since last August, when he claimed gold at the Paris Olympics. He came closest to securing the 100th title at the Shanghai Masters in October, where he was defeated by World No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final.
“I hope the 100th trophy comes soon, maybe in Doha,” Djokovic said. “I’ve been pursuing it since October last year. But when it happens, it will happen. I know it will come, and we’ll see where and when.”
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