“It’s worrying, especially when you are at his age”: Mats Wilander candid take on Novak Djokovic’s future

Novak Djokovic's retirement during his Australian Open semifinal match against Alexander Zverev raises questions about his season following a thigh injury. Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander anticipates a successful return for Nole.

The 37-year-old Serbian had physical issues last year as well, which forced him to withdraw in the Roland Garros quarterfinals before facing Norwegian Casper Ruud. Djokovic underwent surgery and returned just three weeks later at Wimbledon, where he managed to reach the final but lost to Carlos Alcaraz in straight sets.

Wilander predicts Djokovic’s comeback

Zverev's retirement came as a surprise, as he was competing well against the World No. 2, narrowly losing the first set. The Serbian did not call for medical attention and retired quickly, stating in a press conference that he knew he couldn't endure a long match.

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“I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had,” Djokovic said. “Towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.”

There is no clarity yet on Djokovic’s possible return. He is currently listed for the ATP 500 Doha Open starting on 17 February, with players like Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, and Daniil Medvedev in the draw. However, the Serbian has long focused primarily on Grand Slam titles, making it unsurprising if he withdraws from the event.

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Seven-time Grand Slam champion Mats Wilander expressed confidence that Djokovic will return and remain competitive against the world’s best but warned of a possible schedule adjustment for the World No. 7. “I think he will definitely come back and manage his schedule and probably only play ten or 11 events,” he said.

“He is playing great, so I would be very surprised if he is not going to be threatening in the other three slams and especially at Wimbledon as well,” he added, noting that recovery could take longer due to Djokovic's age. “It’s worrying, especially when you are at his age because I think recovery should take a little bit longer normally the older you get.”

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