Novak Djokovic is set to make a swift return to tennis this month, following a leg injury that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has been given the "green light" to resume training and is "ready to go to work."
Djokovic's Return to the Court
The Serbian tennis star is expected to compete at the ATP 500 Qatar Open in Doha, which begins on February 17. This will be Djokovic's first appearance at the tournament since 2018, when he defended his title against Andy Murray
Recovery and Preparation
Djokovic has made a rapid recovery from his injury, revealing that the muscle tear is "almost 100% repaired." He has been cleared by his medical team to resume training and is eager to get back on the court.
"I have the green light from the medical team that I can train, that I can prepare," Djokovic told newspaper Vijesti. "The tournament in Doha is scheduled for seven days now, so I'm sticking to the schedule."
Will Andy Murray Join Djokovic in Doha?
It remains unclear whether Andy Murray will join Djokovic in Doha as his coach. Murray coached Djokovic for the first time at the Australian Open, and while both parties expressed positive sentiments about their collaboration, no official announcement has been made regarding their future partnership.
"I don't know," Djokovic said when asked about the possibility of Murray joining him in Doha. "We both were disappointed with what just happened, so we didn't talk about the future steps."
A Strong Field Awaits in Doha
Djokovic will face stiff competition in Doha, with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and recent Rotterdam champion Carlos Alcaraz also competing in the tournament. Djokovic is seeking his 100th career title and is optimistic about his chances.
"I hope that the 100th title can come to Doha now," Djokovic said. "I've been chasing it for a long time. Thank God I was able to recover quickly."
