Novak Djokovic's schedule as injury worries pile up after Shanghai Masters pain
Novak Djokovic was beaten 6-3, 6-4 by world No. 204 Valentin Vacherot in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, with the Serb clearly nursing another injury
In a shocking turn of events at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday, Novak Djokovic was defeated by qualifier and world No. 204 Valentin Vacherot in the semi-finals. The 38-year-old appeared to be physically struggling throughout the match, frequently stretching his hip and even taking a medical timeout.
However, Djokovic remained tight-lipped about any potential injury concerns after the match. Instead, he chose to commend Vacherot for his performance, wishing him all the best ahead of Sunday's final against Arthur Rinderknech.
This leaves Djokovic's future tournament schedule uncertain, although he has confirmed he'll participate in two more competitions this year. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is set to take part in the Six Kings Slams in Riyadh next week.
Djokovic participated in this high-profile exhibition event last year, where he lost to Jannik Sinner but triumphed over Rafael Nadal in the third-place playoff match.
The Serbian will join Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Middle East, with matches scheduled for October 15, 16 and 18.
As the players with the most Grand Slam titles, Djokovic and Alcaraz have been granted byes and won't need to play until Thursday. Djokovic is likely to face the winner of the Sinner vs Tsitsipas match, while Alcaraz will go up against either Zverev or Fritz.
All six competitors will receive £1.1m just for participating, with an additional £3.4m going to the winner. The world's fifth-ranked tennis player has committed to one more event: the ATP 250 in Athens, which is set to take place in the first week of November.
The tournament is usually held in Djokovic's homeland of Belgrade, Serbia, and is organised by his family, but this year it has been relocated to Greece. The tennis legend, along with his wife and two children, has reportedly made the move to Athens.
Last month, he was seen watching Greece's Davis Cup match against Brazil alongside his son, Stefan. Djokovic has also entered his name for the Paris Masters, which begins on October 27, and he is well-positioned to qualify for the ATP Finals in Turin, scheduled from November 9 to 16.
However, he has made it clear that he is still uncertain whether he'll participate in either tournament. It remains to be seen whether Djokovic is prepared for the upcoming tournaments, particularly the Six Kings Slam, which is just days away.
The world No.5 had a tough time dealing with the intense heat and humidity throughout the week in Shanghai. Djokovic vomited on the court during several matches and collapsed after losing a gruelling set point to Jaume Munar in the fourth round.
However, the real concern arose when he was defeated by Vacherot in Saturday's semifinal. The four-time former champion in Shanghai began stretching his hip in the first set and called for the physio, receiving a medical timeout.
He continued to receive treatment during the next two changeovers and limped around the court between points. Djokovic battled on and showed improvement in the second set, but it proved insufficient as he fell 6-3 6-4.
When questioned about his physical state following the match, the Serbian replied: "No. Next question, please."