Aurélie Sacchelli, Media365, published on Thursday January 23, 2025 at 11:01 a.m.
On the eve of his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev, Novak Djokovic did not train this Thursday. At the same time, some wonder if he faked an injury against Carlos Alcaraz.
Friday against Alexander Zverev (from 4:30 a.m. French time), Novak Djokovic will play his 50th Grand Slam semi-final, in an attempt to reach his 38th final and win his 25th Major. Astronomical figures, and as is often the case with the Serbian player, controversy is never far away. During his quarter-final victory in four sets against Carlos Alcaraz, the 37-year-old received treatment on his thigh at the end of the first set. A set that he lost 6-4, and in his post-match interview, he did not want to say more about his injury, but confided that if he had lost the second set (won 6- 4), he might not have finished the meeting. Novak Djokovic, like Alexander Zverev, benefits from two days of rest before his half, and the journalists present on site noted that the Serb had not trained on Wednesday and Thursday, neither on court no. 16 where he was expected by his fans, nor on the indoor courts. Is he in too much pain or does he know his body well enough to rest it for two days before resuming the tournament? A priori, there is no concern regarding his presence on the Rod Laver Arena on Friday, but there are many questions, so much so that some wonder if the world No. 7 is really injured.
McEnroe: “Don’t be fooled”
“This is not the first time we have seen this type of thing. Don’t be fooled,” said John McEnroe while commenting on the match live. “He’s obviously in good shape,” assured James Blake, another American player who became a consultant. “Injury tactics and miraculous recoveries are part of Djokovic's game,” wrote the main Melbourne newspaper, The Age. In 2021, Novak Djokovic managed to win the Australian Open despite a torn abdominal muscle, and he did it again two years later despite a torn hamstring. Rebelote in 2025?
