Novak Djokovic Spotted Limping After Qatar Open Exit, Raising Indian Wells Doubts
Novak Djokovic has been seen limping just days after his surprise exit from the Qatar Open, sparking concerns about his fitness ahead of Indian Wells. The 24-time Grand Slam champion had already raised injury fears earlier this season when he retired during his Australian Open quarterfinal against Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring issue.
Djokovic later revealed a small tear in his hamstring, which forced him to take several weeks off to recover. After missing key events, he made his comeback in Doha, where anticipation was high for a potential showdown with Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals. However, Djokovic fell in straight sets to Matteo Berrettini, looking uncharacteristically out of rhythm.
Despite the defeat, the Serbian dismissed concerns over lingering pain, insisting that he was physically fine but simply outplayed.
“I didn’t have any pain or discomfort in that sense. I was outplayed by just a better player today,” Djokovic stated in 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 played without pain, so there is no excuse.”
Djokovic later teamed up with Fernando Verdasco in doubles, but the duo was eliminated in the second round.
Djokovic Caught Limping After Qatar Exit
While Djokovic attempted to downplay any injury concerns, new footage from an airport—shared by AS publication—showed him limping, reigniting fears about his condition. With Indian Wells, often referred to as the “fifth Grand Slam,” set to begin in early March, questions remain about whether he will be fully fit in time.
There is even speculation that Djokovic may have picked up a new injury while still recovering from his previous hamstring issue. However, the Serbian has yet to comment on the footage, and it remains unclear if his participation in Indian Wells is at risk.
Djokovic Reclaims No. 7 Ranking Amid De Minaur’s Drop
Despite his early exit in Qatar, Djokovic managed to climb in the ATP rankings, overtaking Alex de Minaur for the World No. 7 spot. De Minaur had reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 before the tournament but dropped back after a quarterfinal loss to eventual champion Andrey Rublev. Meanwhile, Daniil Medvedev moved up to No. 6.
De Minaur’s loss was particularly costly, given that Alcaraz was eliminated on the other side of the draw, leaving the Aussie with a golden opportunity to go deep in the tournament.
Djokovic, who suffered a shock Round of 32 exit at Indian Wells last year, is not defending many ranking points at the event. However, if his injury concerns persist and he withdraws, he risks slipping further down the rankings before the clay-court swing leading up to Roland Garros.
While Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension from tennis has shaken up the rankings, the Italian’s consistency throughout 2024 makes him a difficult target for rivals like Zverev and Alcaraz to catch. Djokovic, meanwhile, will be hoping for a swift recovery to avoid further setbacks in his 2025 campaign.
