The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic canceled his follow session on Wednesday after simply 12 minutes attributable to a neck situation. This comes solely 4 days earlier than the primary Grand Slam of 2026 begins in Melbourne.
The session between the world no. 4 and Daniil Medvedev was scheduled for five pm on Rod Laver Area. The follow lasted roughly 12 minutes, throughout which neither participant gave the impression to be taking part in at full depth. After struggling together with his serve, the Serb required a number of minutes of neck remedy from his physiotherapist, Miljan Amanovic, and the session didn’t proceed.
Novak Djokovic has not participated in a aggressive match because the Hellenic championship in Greece on November 8. Moreover, he not too long ago pulled out of the Adelaide Worldwide, declaring he was “not fairly bodily able to compete.”
To safe his twenty fifth Grand Slam title, Novak Djokovic might must defeat each Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Tennis nice Pat Money prompt that Djokovic would possibly wrestle to endure a number of five-set matches at his age, noting that he would possibly depend on his youthful opponents dropping early within the match. In the end, the participant’s best problem within the coming days might be balancing intense coaching with damage prevention.
Final 12 months, the Serbian tennis star prompt the potential for an early retirement, stirring uncertainty about his bold dream of taking part in till the 2028 Olympic Video games.
He shared that the bodily toll of elite tennis and recurring accidents might reduce his profession shorter than deliberate.
It is price noting that Djokovic, who captured an elusive Olympic gold in Paris final 12 months, was pressured to withdraw from the ATP Finals in Turin attributable to an ongoing damage, ending his season prematurely.
Djokovic confirmed his withdrawal via social media, expressing disappointment and gratitude to his supporters.
“I used to be actually wanting ahead to competing in Turin and giving my greatest, however after in the present day’s ultimate in Athens, I am unhappy to share that I must withdraw attributable to an ongoing damage. I am actually sorry to the followers who had been hoping to see me play – your assist means a lot,” he wrote.

