Novak Djokovic injuries: How every painful setback tested the tennis star, yet he rose each time to fight his way back | International Sports News
•;Novak Djokovic’s career has had almost everything a tennis player can face physically, from breathing problems and heat illness to serious elbow, shoulder, abdominal, hamstring and knee injuries. Some forced him to stop matches, while others came during Grand Slam runs. Yet Djokovic kept finding ways back. Even in 2026, after another difficult physical battle at the US Open, he is still competing at the highest level.
Novak Djokovic’s major injuries and how he fought through them
•2005 French Open: Djokovic retired against Guillermo Coria with a lower-back injury.•2006 French Open: He stopped against Rafael Nadal because of a back and thigh problem.•2007 Wimbledon: A badly infected blister on his left toe, along with back and overall physical problems, forced him to retire against Nadal in the semifinals. Djokovic later said he did not want to make the injury worse.•2009 Australian Open: Djokovic retired against Andy Roddick after struggling with heat illness, cramps and soreness in extreme conditions.•2010–11 health struggles: Djokovic had repeated breathing and energy problems during matches. He later changed his diet after identifying a sensitivity to gluten, which he credited with helping him feel stronger and more comfortable on court.•2016–18 right elbow injury: The elbow problem became a major setback and ended his 2017 season after Wimbledon. He had surgery in January 2018. Months later, he won Wimbledon and the US Open and finished the year as world No. 1.•2019 US Open: A left shoulder injury forced Djokovic to retire against Stan Wawrinka while trailing 6-4, 7-5, 2-1.•2021 Australian Open: Djokovic suffered an abdominal muscle tear during his match with Taylor Fritz but continued the tournament and won the title.•2023 Australian Open: He arrived with a left hamstring injury and needed heavy strapping and medical treatment during early rounds. He still defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final to win his 10th Australian Open title.•2024 French Open: Djokovic tore the meniscus in his right knee during his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerúndolo. He withdrew from the tournament and had surgery. Just over eight weeks later, he won Olympic gold in Paris after beating Carlos Alcaraz.•2025: A continuing shoulder injury eventually forced Djokovic to withdraw from the ATP Finals after he had won the Athens title.•2026 US Open: Djokovic faced another physical test against Mariano Navone. He dealt with vomiting, cramps, back and shoulder pain during a four-hour, 36-minute first-round match before losing in five sets.
Novak Djokovic’s recent injuries show the same fight
The 2026 US Open loss was very different from some of Djokovic’s famous injury comebacks because this time he could not find a way through. Still, the match showed why his physical struggles have become such an important part of his story. He had already dealt with health problems during the season, yet continued to compete.That attitude was clear after his 2024 knee surgery too. Djokovic did not simply return to tennis; he pushed himself back into Grand Slam and Olympic competition. He reached the Wimbledon final and then won Olympic gold only weeks after the operation.His career has therefore been shaped not only by the injuries themselves, but by what he did after each one. Some setbacks forced him away from the court, some tested him during matches, and some required surgery. Each time, Djokovic found another reason to continue.
