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Novak Djokovic has given an update on his health after facing setbacks in his recent matches. Over the summer, the 39-year-old struggled physically and was seen vomiting on court as he suffered back-to-back opening-round losses at the Cincinnati Open and US Open. He recovered to win the China Open in Beijing, but has admitted to dealing with an undisclosed health issue in recent years. Now, the world No. 12 has changed his schedule, taking a wildcard into this week’s Swiss Indoors Basel. It’s the first time Djokovic will compete in Basel since 2011, and he’s eyeing a spot at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin.
Djokovic qualified for the ATP Finals in 2024 and 2025 but withdrew from the tournament, which features the eight players who have earned the most ranking points in a single year. However, he’s changed his mind this season and wants to return to Turin for the first time since he lifted the trophy there in 2023.
To do that, he will need to make up some ground on his rivals over the coming weeks at the Swiss Indoors and the Paris Masters – and hope that his health issues do not rear their head again. It sounds like that will not be the case, though, as Djokovic has given a rare update on his condition.
“I’ve progressed a lot and we’re on the right track. It’s not 100 per cent yet, but I’m close. We won't talk about it anymore,” the 24-time Major champion told Sportal, shortly before leaving for Basel.
It comes after Djokovic alluded to health problems during his early losses in the summer. At the Cincinnati Open, he said: “It’s just a condition that I have, health-wise, that has been bothering me for the past couple of years. (It causes) a lot of issues, especially when it is humid and it is hot.”
After losing in the first round of the US Open, he added: “I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It's something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. You know, vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there.”
Djokovic already made some progress during the Asian swing, winning some brutally long matches to claim his 102nd career title in Beijing. But he struggled with the quick turnaround at the Shanghai Masters, losing his opening match to Hubert Hurkacz.
The world No. 12 then planned to compete only in the Paris Masters before taking a wildcard into Basel. Djokovic said that the postponement of the Six Kings Slam, a three-day exhibition event in Saudi Arabia, opened the door to compete in Switzerland.
He added: “I didn't play Basel for a long time. The schedule changed. They moved the tournament in Saudi Arabia that I was supposed to play, so that week was free. I’m playing well, I’m feeling good, of course, it’s not the way we want it yet, but at a competitive level, I’ll be in Basel.”
Djokovic also explained that his desire to play in Basel, Paris and Turin was partly down to the indoor conditions, which made things easier for him. “This year I would like to go to Turin. I have a chance, we’ll see,” he said.
“Another motivation for adding a tournament this indoor season is because I think it will be easier for me physically indoors because there is no heat, no sun, no external factors that I face when I play outside. It will mean a lot to me and we hope for the best.”
Djokovic faces Ugo Humbert in his opening match at the Swiss Indoors. He’s already been training on-site with old rival Stan Wawrinka, who is retiring this week.
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