Serena Williams’ former coach Rennae Stubbs has shed light on Novak Djokovic struggles with injuries in the ongoing season. Djokovic was forced to retire after losing the opening set of the Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev.
The Serbian was booed by the Melbourne crowd but he uploaded a photo of his MRI on his social media account, in which it was revealed that he had suffered a muscle tear.
After recovering from his injury, Djokovic made a comeback in the Qatar Open but was shocked by Matteo Berrettini in straight sets. Stubbs noted that Djokovic is struggling more and more with injuries as he is not getting any younger.
“Novak Djokovic did lose to Berrettini. Berrettini did play the match of his life. He was hitting forehands all over the place for winners. I know he’s had his issues at the start of this year with in Australia with the leg. He’s struggling with injuries over the last couple of years now with the knee, with the leg,” she said, in a recent episode of the Rennae Stubbs tennis podcast.
“Novak has bounced back better than most, better than probably anyone. But this is starting to be a little bit of an issue now, not winning matches. And then when you haven’t played for a while, then you come back and you’re older. When you go and play a match, you’re pushing yourself more, you’re doing a little more, you’re more nervous, your body’s more uptight. And he’s struggling more and more and more,” she added.
On the other hand, Djokovic revealed that he has fully recovered from a muscle tear which he suffered during the Australian Open.
“There’s no longer any muscle tear. The injury is almost 100 percent healed and I’m ready to go for more victories. I have the green light from the medical team to train, to prepare,” he said, in an interview with the Montenegrin newspaper Vijesti.
Djokovic is seeking his 100th title win and he would join Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer in the elite list.
