Andrea Petkovic, the former world No. 9, has raised concerns about Novak Djokovic’s fitness following the Serbian legend’s recent injury struggles at the start of the 2025 season.
Djokovic kicked off his year at the Brisbane International, where he was ousted in the quarter-finals by Reilly Opelka. However, he quickly found his rhythm at the Australian Open, cruising past Tomas Machac, Jiri Lehecka, and Carlos Alcaraz to reach the semi-finals.
It was in his quarter-final win over Alcaraz that Djokovic sustained a left leg injury, which hindered his performance during his subsequent match against Alexander Zverev. Despite his best efforts, the world No. 7 could only manage a set in the semi-final before being forced to withdraw. Afterward, Djokovic confirmed the injury was a hamstring tear. Remarkably, he made a swift recovery and was back in action at the Qatar Open just three weeks later.
However, his return to the court was not as smooth as expected. Djokovic faced a heavy straight-set defeat at the hands of Matteo Berrettini in the opening round of the ATP 500 tournament in Doha, marking his first first-round exit at a hard-court event since the 2018 Miami Open. As a result, his win-loss record for 2025 stands at 7-3.
The 37-year-old, who is still chasing his record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title and 100th ATP singles crown, remains a dominant figure in the sport. He claimed his 24th major title at the 2023 US Open, and most recently triumphed at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
On Tennis Channel’s Inside-In podcast, Petkovic shared her perspective on Djokovic’s return to the competitive scene in Doha. “We don’t know when Novak was able to start practicing after his muscle tear,” the German noted. “Maybe the comeback came a bit early.”
She added, “We’ll have to wait and see whether he addresses this or if he just needs some time to adjust in competition. Sometimes, after an injury, you can be performing well in practice, but it takes a while to translate that form into matches.”
Despite her concerns about his physical recovery, Petkovic isn’t worried about Djokovic’s on-court game. “I’m not worried about Novak’s tennis. He played excellently at the Australian Open, particularly that match against Carlos (Alcaraz),” she stated. “Some people might have thought Carlos lost that match, but in my view, Novak just outplayed him. I don’t think Alcaraz played badly at all.”
Petkovic emphasized her belief that Djokovic will be just fine if his health allows him to compete fully: “As long as he’s healthy, he’ll be fine.”
Reflecting on his Australian Open performances last month, Petkovic also praised Djokovic’s enduring brilliance. She wrote on her Substack blog, “Anyone who doubts Novak’s tennis ability again, whether he’s 37 or 55, should be sentenced to eternal silence. Yes, I’m talking about myself.”
She elaborated further, acknowledging how she previously questioned whether Djokovic could maintain his explosiveness against younger opponents: “It wasn’t that I doubted his tennis quality; I just couldn’t quite believe he’d be able to keep up with the young guns in terms of power and speed.”
However, Petkovic was forced to eat her words, admitting Djokovic’s performances were better than ever in the early rounds of the Australian Open. “For three matches—Machac, Lehecka, and Alcaraz—he played at an incredible level,” she stated. “He was still the same consistent player, never missing, but with a greater sense of urgency, hitting the ball bigger and changing directions more frequently. It was almost undetectable for the opponents.”
While concerns about Djokovic’s fitness may linger, Petkovic’s admiration for his ability to adapt and perform at the highest level is undeniable. If he stays healthy, the Serbian icon’s legacy is sure to continue its ascent.