Novak Djokovic gestures to the crowd at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic is rumoured to be considering a quicker-than-expected return to action and his motivation to play at the Qatar Open may be driven by more than just a desire to play matches.

Djokovic made it clear in 2024 that his motivation was focused on playing in the Grand Slams and trying to win matches for his beloved Serbia in the Olympics and Davis Cup, but he confirmed many weeks ago that he intended to play in Doha later this month.

That was before he damaged his hamstring at the Australian Open, forcing him to withdraw from his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev in Melbourne.

Most medical experts expected Djokovic to be sidelined for up to two months with the hamstring problem, amid suggestions that he would not return until the European clay court season.

Yet rumours suggest he is still planning to play in Qatar, with the tournament set to get underway on February 17.

The Sportal website broke the news that Djokovic is planning to travel to Qatar and also suggested Claudio Cimalja will be travelling to Doha with the Serbian as his physiotherapist, stepping in for Miljan Amanovic.

There was no confirmation if Andy Murray would be with Djokovic in Doha, after the former rivals teamed up with Murray offering coaching advice to the 24-time Grand Slam champion at the Australian Open.

Murray may well return to the Djokovic camp for the Grand Slam tournaments at the French Open and Wimbledon this summer, with his eagerness to play in Qatar likely to have been propelled by his close ties with the country.

Djokovic was unveiled as a new ambassador for Qatar Airways last November, with the lucrative deal set to continue long after he retires from the sport.

“It is my great pleasure and honour to partner with Qatar Airways, a company I have admired for many years,” said Djokovic of the deal.

“Not just for its impeccable service to its customers and employees, but also because it recognises the importance of wellbeing and longevity which is a passion of mine.

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“I believe that together we will be able to add more value and quality to the award-winning experience for customers worldwide.

“As I continue to travel the world as a professional athlete, with my family and for business, I am grateful to have Qatar Airways as my partner.”

The media announcement also included this line, as it highlighted the importance of the Qatar Open tennis tournament to the deal.

“Qatar Airways will work with Novak Djokovic to further elevate the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, the prestigious tournament held since 1993,” added the statement.

This deal may well commit Djokovic to attend the Qatar Open whether he is playing or not, so he may fly to Doha with the option of playing in the tournament and will only make a decision on his participation when he practices prior to the draw.

While there are suggestions that Djokovic has not hit any balls since his Australian Open retirement, he would not be contemplating a return to action for this event if the medical reports that will have been coming his way in recent days were not encouraging.

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