The 2025 Wimbledon Championships, already brimming with drama, took a tense turn on July 10 as Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, canceled a scheduled practice session ahead of his blockbuster semifinal against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The decision, confirmed by the All England Club, sparked widespread concern after the 38-year-old Serbian suffered what he called a “nasty fall” during his quarterfinal victory over Flavio Cobolli. The incident, occurring just moments before clinching a hard-fought 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win, left Djokovic sprawled on the grass, clutching his left leg in visible discomfort. “It was very awkward,” he said post-match, admitting, “Obviously, my body is not the same today like it was before, so I guess the real impact or effect of what happened I will feel tomorrow.” As fans and analysts await updates, the tennis world holds its breath, wondering if the seven-time Wimbledon champion can overcome this setback to challenge Sinner on July 11.
The fall occurred in the fourth set against Cobolli, with Djokovic serving at 40-30 and 5-4, on his second match point. Attempting to shift left behind the baseline to return a shot, he slipped on the slick grass, nearly doing a split before collapsing forward. “It’s not the first or last time I’ve slipped, but it is the first time this year, which is surprising because I’m a player who likes to slide on grass,” he noted, acknowledging the humidity of the evening match increased the court’s slipperiness. Despite the scare, Djokovic’s resilience shone through as he won the next two points to secure victory, a testament to his trademark grit. However, his decision to cancel Thursday’s 1-3 p.m. practice at Aorangi Park—later delayed to 3-4:30 p.m. before being scrapped entirely—fueled speculation about the severity of his injury. “Novak Djokovic was supposed to be out on the practice court a couple of times today, but he’s canceled his practices,” ESPN’s Patrick McEnroe reported, calling it a “potentially unsettling sign.”
Djokovic’s physical challenges are not new. Earlier in 2025, he retired from the Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev due to a leg injury, and a 2024 French Open knee issue required surgery. “Sometimes I get tired of all the chores I have to do on a daily basis to get my body ready to be able to perform,” he admitted, highlighting the grueling off-court work required to compete with younger stars like Sinner, 23, and Carlos Alcaraz, 22. “Physically, I hope that I’ll be able to sustain that,” he added, expressing cautious optimism. His team has not ruled out rescheduling practice, but as of Thursday evening, no sessions were booked, leaving his status uncertain.
The semifinal clash with Sinner, who leads their head-to-head 5-4, adds urgency to Djokovic’s recovery. Sinner, bidding for his first Wimbledon final, canceled his own practice earlier in the tournament after injuring his right elbow against Grigor Dimitrov. Yet, he appeared untroubled in a straight-sets quarterfinal win over Ben Shelton, practicing comfortably on Thursday. “I’m hoping the next 24, 48 hours that the severity of what was happening on the court and what happened is not too bad, that I’ll be able to play at my best and free of pain in two days,” Djokovic said, aware of Sinner’s recent dominance, including a straight-sets victory at the 2025 French Open. However, Djokovic holds a 2-0 edge over Sinner at Wimbledon, winning in 2022 and 2023, which he believes gives him an edge on grass. “I get another opportunity,” he said. “Being in the last stages of grand slams and playing against the best player in the world right now… Him next to Alcaraz are the leaders of men’s tennis today.”
The other semifinal pits Alcaraz, the two-time defending champion, against Taylor Fritz, who also required a medical timeout in his quarterfinal. Remarkably, Alcaraz emerged as the only quarterfinalist unscathed, amplifying his threat. Djokovic’s cancellation, while possibly precautionary given his history of skipping practice to prioritize recovery, casts a shadow over his quest for an eighth Wimbledon title, which would tie Roger Federer’s record. As the tennis world braces for Friday’s showdown, Djokovic’s resilience and Sinner’s form promise a clash of titans—if the Serbian’s body holds up.
Leave a Reply