{"id":47328,"date":"2025-05-11T01:45:28","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T01:45:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=47328"},"modified":"2025-05-11T01:45:28","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T01:45:28","slug":"novak-djokovic-appears-with-major-health-scare-ahead-of-comeback-in-geneva","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=47328","title":{"rendered":"Novak Djokovic Appears With Major Health Scare Ahead Of Comeback In Geneva"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A picture of\u00a0Novak Djokovic\u00a0from a recent practice session indicated he might have an injury problem before his planned return at the 2025\u00a0Geneva Open.<\/div>\n
Djokovic withdrew from the ongoing 2025 Italian Open in Rome. Not playing at the final Masters 1000 tournament before the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros was a significant and risky move from the Serbian.<\/div>\n
That decision followed Djokovic’s failure to win a match at the 2025 Monte-Carlo Masters or the 2025 Madrid Open. It left him with a dilemma between playing matches to gain momentum or resting until the French Open.<\/div>\n
Djokovic chose to find a middle ground, pulling out of the Italian Open but\u00a0accepting a place at the Geneva Open, which takes place the week before the second Grand Slam of the season begins at Roland Garros.<\/div>\n
However, the 24-time major champion’s involvement might not be guaranteed. A picture of him with his team members after a practice showed him with considerable strapping on his right knee.<\/div>\n
Djokovic did not provide a reason for withdrawing from the Italian Open. Therefore, it is unclear whether there was an issue with his knee before or after he announced his decision not to play in Rome.<\/div>\n
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The former\u00a0ATP\u00a0world No. 1 and the others in the picture below seem in good spirits. Hopefully, the problem is not severe, and the fans at the Geneva Open will be treated to some quality tennis from the legend.<\/div>\n
Djokovic also played in Geneva last year, losing in the semifinal to Tomas Machac. He made that decision after losing in the round of 32 at the 2024 Italian Open to Alejandro Tabilo because he wanted more match practice to be ready for the French Open.<\/div>\n
The seven-time Wimbledon champion has had even less clay-court preparation this year, which means his decision to play in Geneva is not wholly surprising. It gives him an opportunity to get at least one win before going to Roland Garros.<\/div>\n
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Expectations for Djokovic ahead of a Grand Slam are currently unusually low because of his poor performances in Monte-Carlo and Madrid. Carlos Alcaraz, if fit, feels like an overwhelming favorite to retain the title.<\/div>\n
It is unclear whether world No. 1 Jannik Sinner will reach a level good enough to challenge for the French Open since he only returned from a three-month suspension on Saturday at the Italian Open.<\/div>\n
Although the three-time Grand Slam champion’s\u00a0level was quite good against Mariano Navone, Sinner undoubtedly needs to make significant improvements in subsequent matches to feel ready for challenging Alcaraz or Alexander Zverev at the French Open.<\/div>\n
Nonetheless, Sinner is in a better place than Djokovic after winning one match. The 23-year-old has not played as well on clay as hard courts over the year, but made improvements on the surface last year, reaching a maiden French Open semifinal.<\/div>\n
Sinner also came close to reaching the final in Paris. Alcaraz needed five sets to defeat his fellow young star before also beating Zverev in the same number of sets in the final. Matches between Sinner and Alcaraz are usually blockbuster encounters.<\/div>\n