Novak Djokovic fuels injury concerns as he battles | Sports News

Novak Djokovic has shared that he is battling an arm injury at Indian Wells, the place he has superior to the final 16 for the primary time in 9 years. The match has been difficult for the No. 3 seed, who has been pushed to a few units in his initial two matches.

After a close call towards Aleksandar Kovacevic on Monday, Djokovic confessed he wasn’t “enjoying” the competitors within the Californian desert. It could be linked to his latest bodily setback. Djokovic has been taking part in with an arm sleeve all through Indian Wells.

However, after saying a new partnership with Incrediwear on his own line of restoration sleeves, this did not raise any concerns. The “infrared wearable,” as Djokovic calls it, has been put to good use, as the 38-year-old revealed that his forearm had been troubling him. It does not seem like an injury worsened by taking part in, however fairly the opposite.

“I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks with that forearm and trying to go through. It’s a bit odd, the more I serve, the better I feel, but then it comes on and off if I get cold,” Djokovic informed Tennis Channel after defeating Kovacevic in three units.

“If I don’t serve for five or six minutes, then I feel like the first couple of serves of that game are a bit painful. I’m working through it. It’s not something I haven’t faced before. It’s the ins and outs of being a tennis player at this level, but overall, the body is feeling okay. Hopefully it’s going to get better every day.”

The arm downside hasn’t prevented Djokovic from taking part in extra tennis. He joined the doubles draw with Stefanos Tsitsipas, they usually upset the No. 3 seeds and defending champions, Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, within the opening spherical. Djokovic and Tsitsipas, nicknamed ‘Stefanole,’ took on cousins and top-30 singles gamers Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot on Tuesday, ultimately shedding in straight units.

Next, the Serbian icon will meet defending singles champion Jack Draper on Wednesday. “I’m trying to manage my body and my mental state on a daily basis so that I can be peaking as much as I possibly can on a given day,” Djokovic added.

“Then, of course, there is a challenge and obstacle across the net. It’s not going to get easier from here. Jack Draper is next, who is the defending champ and playing at a really high level again, but I love the challenge. That is one of the biggest reasons why I am still here and competing with these young guys. I want to see how they beat me — if they can — and that drives me every day to get better and prove to myself and others that I can still play at a high level.”

British No. 1 Draper can also be savoring the chance to face Djokovic for less than the second time.

Their initial encounter occurred at Wimbledon in 2021 when Draper made his Grand Slam debut as a wildcard ranked outdoors the world’s high 250 and fell in 4 units. Seeded 14th in Indian Wells this fortnight, Draper is competing in simply his second ATP Tour occasion since a left arm injury compelled him to close down his 2025 season in August.

“I have been watching him since I was young. He’s obviously, I think, the greatest tennis player of all time. His mentality and just his level of tennis is always incredibly high,” Draper mentioned of the 24-time Major winner.

“I’m going to have to play really well and take my chances but, more than anything, just very grateful to not only be out here but to be having the opportunity to play against these guys and keep on improving my level and giving myself another chance to compete on the stages I want to be at.”