NEW YORK — The serene atmosphere of a US Open night session was shattered by an unprecedented scene as Novak Djokovic, locked in a tense fourth-round battle, requested tournament officials and a medical trainer during a changeover, sharing a worrying physical update that sent a ripple of concern through Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, facing off against his compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic, was seen in a deep and animated discussion with the chair umpire and a Grand Slam supervisor after falling behind a break in the third set. The match was paused for several minutes as Djokovic, who had been visibly uncomfortable, gestured towards his left leg and abdomen, explaining his physical distress.
A courtside microphone picked up a fragment of the concerning conversation, with Djokovic stating, "I need the authorities, now. It's my leg and my stomach. I'm not feeling right at all." The term "authorities" is understood within tennis circles to refer to the highest-ranking tournament referees and medical personnel available on-site.
After a brief consultation, the match resumed, but Djokovic’s movement was clearly hampered. He struggled to push off on his left leg during his serve and appeared to be avoiding the full, explosive lateral movements that are a hallmark of his game. He ultimately surrendered the third set 6-4, levelling the match at one set apiece.
A Worrying Pattern of Physical Issues
This incident is not an isolated one for the Serbian star in this year's North American hard court swing. Djokovic arrived in New York with limited match practice, having skipped the entire US Open Series lead-up events, including the Masters 1000 tournaments in Montreal and Cincinnati.
His last competitive outing before Flushing Meadows was a surprising straight-sets loss to Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, a match where he later admitted he was not at his physical peak. In his post-match press conference after a previous round at the US Open, Djokovic had been coy about his condition, deflecting questions with a typical champion's resolve.
When pressed by a reporter, he had stated, "You know, it's a Grand Slam. There are always niggles. You play through them. It's part of our sport." However, the mid-match call for the "authorities" against Kecmanovic suggests the issue is far more significant than a minor "niggle."
The Specifics of the Ailment
While an official diagnosis has not been released by Djokovic's team, sources close to the situation indicate the primary concern is a recurrence of a long-standing issue with his left elbow, compounded by what appears to be a separate abdominal strain. The combination is particularly debilitating for a player whose game is built on relentless precision and power from the baseline.
The physical toll was evident in several key areas of his performance against Kecmanovic:
- Serve Speed: A noticeable drop in velocity, especially on his second serve.
- Lateral Movement: A clear reluctance to slide or stretch wide on his forehand side.
- Overhead Shots: Apparent discomfort when reaching upwards for high volleys and smashes.
Tennis analyst and former player Brad Gilbert noted on the ESPN broadcast, "You can see it in his gait. He's protecting something. When Novak is at 100%, he glides. Right now, he's laboring. This is a real problem."
Implications for the Tournament and Beyond
The timing of this physical setback could not be more critical. With the top half of the draw already wide open due to the early exits of seeds like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Andrey Rublev, Djokovic was considered the heavy favourite to reach the final. A compromised Djokovic dramatically alters the landscape of the entire tournament.
Furthermore, this raises significant questions about the remainder of his season. The 36-year-old has a packed schedule ahead, including the chase for a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title and the crucial Davis Cup Finals for Serbia. A serious injury could force him to reconsider his commitments.
The Road Ahead
Despite the clear physical distress, Djokovic's legendary fighting spirit was on full display. After receiving treatment during the medical timeout, he managed to regroup and claw his way back into the contest, breaking Kecmanovic early in the fourth set. The capacity crowd, initially hushed with concern, roared back to life with every winning point he scraped out.
His ability to compete through pain is well-documented, but this challenge appears to be one of his most severe in recent years. The tennis world now holds its breath, waiting for a more detailed update from his team. The sight of "the authorities" being summoned mid-match is a stark reminder that even the greatest champions are vulnerable to the physical demands of the sport.
In a brief statement to the media relayed by a tournament official immediately after his eventual four-set victory, Djokovic was terse, saying only, "I will be assessed by my medical team tonight. That is all I can say." The path forward for the defending champion in New York is now shrouded in a cloud of uncertainty, with his quest for a historic 25th major title hanging in the balance.