Novak Djokovic has officially confirmed his participation in the main draw of Indian Wells, following concerns over his health after the Qatar Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion played in Doha this week, where he was eliminated in the first round by Matteo Berrettini.
Although he showed no apparent physical issues during his match against the Italian, a video surfaced showing Djokovic limping as he entered Doha airport. The Serbian had already been dealing with a thigh injury from his semifinal match at the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev.
Initially, it was expected that Djokovic would miss several weeks of competition due to the thigh injury. However, he accelerated his recovery to compete in Doha, given his role as an ambassador for tennis in Qatar.
There had been no confirmation regarding Djokovic’s participation in the Sunshine Double tournaments, which begin in Indian Wells. Last year, Djokovic reached the third round of the tournament. He has won 5 titles at Indian Wells, but in his last four appearances, he hasn’t progressed past the quarterfinals.
This will be a good opportunity for the former world No. 1 to turn his season around, especially with Jannik Sinner's recent doping suspension keeping him out of the competition.
A legend returns to the desert 🙌 @DjokerNole | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/dABpbFWlOY
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 22, 2025