Some reports from a few days ago, including one from Tennis World USA, suggested that Novak Djokovic might be out of the Tour for a couple of months, potentially returning only for the clay swing in April. However, fans won’t have to wait long to see him back in action.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was forced to retire mid-match in his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev after dropping the first set 7-6. Djokovic later confirmed that he had suffered a muscle tear in his thigh, an issue that had already troubled him in the preceding days.
Following his withdrawal from Melbourne, Djokovic remained silent regarding his comeback, fueling speculation that he would only return for the clay swing. However, it has now been confirmed that the Serbian will be back on court in just two weeks at the ATP 500 Qatar Open.
Djokovic will travel to the Middle East for this one-off tournament, taking place from 17 to 22 February in Doha. He appeared in a promotional video for the Qatar Tennis Federation, confirming his participation in the draw: "Hey guys, it's Novak. See you in Doha for the ATP 500 Qatar ExxonMobil Open," Djokovic said.