"You could see he was so weak and couldn't do it": Reports emerge Novak Djokovic had secret illness prior to shock Sinner loss
ATPThursday, 01 February 2024 at 09:47
A report has emerged from Serbia which claims that a fever was the catalyst behind Novak Djokovic's shock loss at the 2024 Australian Open to Jannik Sinner. Quotes from Luka Nikolic, a journalist were published on social media and stated that the 24-time Grand Slam champion was battling a fever the night before he lost to the Italian.
Djokovic who also looked to suffer at other junctures of the tournament looked a different player against Sinner easily losing the first two sets before forcing Sinner to a fourth. He had previously complained in previous rounds about being unwell and also pre tournament had his issue with his wrist injury which was highly documented.
Some on social media in response to these comments said that as a result it was likely to be the case, while others as expected said it was merely an excuse on the part of the 24-time Grand Slam champion as to why he lost out to the first time Grand Slam champion again.
"Novak got a fever the night before the semi-final,' Nikolic from Meridian Sport Global said this week. "[It was] something similar to what [Alexander] Zverev had.
"He was sick for three weeks, and then he had a relapse. That's why he played so badly in the first two sets, you could see he was so weak and couldn't do it. He couldn't play well in those conditions. He didn't want to go to the doctor so the journalists wouldn't bother him and make a fuss."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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