Novak
Djokovic practices without knee protection for the first time since his injury
at the French Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion appears to be fully
recovered and ready to compete as he prepares to defend his title at the
upcoming US Open.
Two months
ago, the outlook was bleak for the Serbian, who had to withdraw from Roland
Garros before stepping on the court against Casper Ruud. He quickly underwent
knee surgery that same week, leaving doubts about his participation in
Wimbledon and even the Olympic Games.
Djokovic practices without knee brace
However, it
now seems that everything is in the past. The Serbian managed to expedite his
recovery to participate in Wimbledon, where he reached the final but lost to
Carlos Alcaraz. A few weeks later, he took revenge in Paris 2024 and claimed
the gold medal in an exciting final, once again against Alcaraz.
Nole’s
recovery has been almost miraculous, although he had been seen wearing knee
protection during the last tournaments and training sessions. A new video on
social media shows Nole training without protection for the first time, just
over a week before the US Open begins.
The Serbian
was the champion in 2023 and will be aiming for his first title of the year (at
the ATP Tour level) in Flushing Meadows. The world No. 2 decided to skip the
Canadian Open and Cincinnati Open to continue working on his recovery, so he
hasn’t played on hard courts since March. However, this likely won’t be a
problem for Djokovic, who has shown countless times in his career that he
doesn’t need much time to adapt to a surface change.
For now,
Djokovic is slated as the second seed at the US Open (allowing him to avoid
Jannik Sinner until a potential final), though he still has to wait for the end
of the Cincinnati Open, as if Alexander Zverev wins the title, Djokovic will be
seeded third.
In any
case, Djokovic will be one of the main favourites, carrying maximum confidence
after securing the coveted gold medal at Paris 2024 and with the goal of
winning his 25th Grand Slam title, which would give him the absolute record in
tennis history, surpassing Margaret Court (24 GS titles).
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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