Ex Andy Murray coach says 'never believe anything you read' about Novak Djokovic's mooted injury layoffs
ATP
Novak Djokovic will return next week (Monday 17th) at the Qatar Open in Doha when he plays the ATP 1000. But ex-coach of Andy Murray in Mark Petchey has warned to not listen to the mooted injury layoff rumours that get banded around.
Djokovic famously was set to be out for Wimbledon last year. He tore the medial meniscus in his right knee at the French Open which put his participation at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club in jeopardy. But he miraculously returned way ahead of schedule to reach the final.
Some have doubted Djokovic and have banded conspiracy theories around that he isn't actually injured. Petchey chimes in with that almost but at the same time admitted that it should just be taken with a pinch of salt as opposed to it being a conspiracy.
"Novak is ahead of schedule in terms of his recovery, and I think it's phenomenal that he's trying to be at 100% for the Qatar Open. Because, of course, a few weeks after being injured in Australia, there were still rumours suggesting that he wouldn't be back until Madrid, on clay. So I have some simple advice for understanding Djokovic: never believe anything you read about him," said Petchey as per We Love Tennis.
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This time regarding his torn right thigh that he sustained during the Australian Open. He was mooted to be out until Madrid on clay but will return only around a month after sustaining the injury.
Despite sharing an MRI of his injury, Djokovic still had top tennis names including John McEnroe and Andy Roddick doubting his injury. “He was moving as well as I’ve seen Novak move in 18 months, maybe two years," quipped Roddick.
“It didn’t work that way in my career. If I pulled a groin, it kind of tended to stay pulled and maybe get worse.”
Those doubting Djokovic perhaps do have a point given that he is 100% back soon after injuring it and he is sticking to his schedule of playing Doha. "There is no more rupture in the muscle, the injury is almost 100 per cent repaired and I am ready to go to work for more victories."
Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury “experts” out there. pic.twitter.com/ZO5mBtw9zB
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) January 25, 2025
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