A wave of concern rippled through the Wimbledon grounds today as Novak Djokovic, the seven-time champion, was noticeably absent from his scheduled practice session. Just a day before his highly anticipated semifinal clash against Italy`s Jannik Sinner, Djokovic`s failure to appear for practice fueled speculation regarding his physical condition.
Yesterday`s Issue
The Serbian champion reportedly skipped his planned hit at Aorangi training courts, initially set for 1 PM local time, then pushed back to 3 PM, before ultimately being cancelled entirely. This absence is understood to be directly related to a physical issue he experienced during his quarterfinal victory over Flavio Cobolli.
Djokovic felt the problem escalate during the fourth set, specifically attributing it to a slip on his first match point. He later described the sensation as a muscle contracting followed by pain. Evidently, the issue from yesterday`s challenge proved more significant than initially perceived.
While it`s possible, as seen recently with Sinner`s own elbow concerns after the Dimitrov match, that the champion opted for a private, lighter session to assess the injury away from prying eyes, the cancellation of *both* scheduled public slots is unusual and bears closer scrutiny. One might even say, for a player of Djokovic`s seasoned expertise in managing physical nuances, publicly missing practice signals something noteworthy.
A Warning Sign
This development unquestionably serves as a warning signal for the seven-time Wimbledon champion. Adding to the unease is a relevant precedent from earlier this year. Following his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz at the Australian Open, Djokovic also reported a thigh issue. On that occasion, he skipped two practice sessions before attempting to play his semifinal against Alexander Zverev, ultimately retiring after just one set due to the injury.
This history serves as a stark reminder that such physical setbacks, even seemingly minor ones, can have serious consequences for a player navigating the demanding later stages of a Grand Slam, regardless of their legendary status. Whether this latest muscle complaint is a genuine threat to his participation or simply a precautionary measure remains unclear. What is certain is that Djokovic`s missed practice casts a shadow of uncertainty over the men`s semifinals and the highly anticipated showdown with Jannik Sinner.
