Djokovic: Unprecedented Level of Concern for My Body

At 38, Djokovic confessed to ESPN after his third-round match at the 2025 US Open that bodily discomfort since the start of the tournament has been troubling him. Despite winning in four sets against the British player Norrie this morning Beijing time, Djokovic took two medical timeouts during the match.

Djokovic

"Honestly, I am quite worried, and this is a level of concern I have never had before. Even though I take great care of my body, dedicating a lot of time both on and off the court every day to maintain my condition and recovery, aging cannot be ignored. Things are different now; I have to adjust my training methods and sometimes even skip training between two matches. The team believes that in the long run, recovery is more important than practicing on the court. Tomorrow might be arranged similarly; we still need to discuss it, but the focus is on proper recovery to prepare for the next match."

The four-time tournament champion suddenly held his lower back near the end of the first set during a movement. Leading 5-4 and serving for the set, Djokovic left Arthur Ashe Stadium and received treatment from ATP physiotherapist Clay Sniteman in the locker room. He was treated again at the first changeover in the second set, but the discomfort largely disappeared as the match went on.

This is Djokovic’s first event since the Wimbledon semifinals. Although he defeated American rising star Learner Chen in straight sets in the first round, the Serbian star showed clear signs of physical fatigue even in relatively mild weather conditions. His physical condition was still far from peak when he won in four sets against Zachary Svajda in the second round.

When asked how much time he now spends on recovery during tournaments, Djokovic said, "Actually, probably more than when I was younger. To keep up with the younger players, I have to add several extra hours every day. Whether it’s massages, physiotherapy, using various recovery devices, or ensuring proper sleep and nutrition, all these factors become crucial as the tournament progresses round by round. Young players come at you full of energy and fitness, while I’m competing at half throttle. I hope to try to change that in this tournament, though I’m not sure if it’s possible. Obviously, the body’s response is unpredictable, but one thing is certain: I will fight until my last bit of energy is gone and try to go as far as possible."

Djokovic will face German player Struff in the fourth round, holding a perfect 7-0 head-to-head record against him. According to the draw, Djokovic may meet home favorite Fritz in the quarterfinals, with a potential semifinal clash against second seed Alcaraz.

(Compiled by Wang Fei, Photos by Visual China)