Djokovic Withdraws from Adelaide: Red Flag for Grand Slam Title Defense

Tennis legend Djokovic has just announced his withdrawal from the Adelaide International. As soon as the news broke, many fans felt uneasy—the alarm for defending his Grand Slam title sounded even before the new season officially began.

As one of the key warm-up events before the Australian Open, Adelaide has been a fortunate venue for Djokovic, with victories in both 2007 and 2023. He described it as feeling “like a home court.” Everyone was hoping he would use this event to regain his rhythm, but unexpectedly, he issued a statement saying, “My body isn’t fully ready yet,” forcing him to skip the tournament and focus all his energy on preparing for the Australian Open. This marks the second consecutive year he has adjusted his schedule due to physical issues. After the Athens tournament last year, he suffered a shoulder injury that kept him out of the ATP Finals. Now, after two months without official matches and withdrawing from this warm-up, speculation grows that his injury might not be fully healed.

For the 38-year-old veteran, jumping straight into a Grand Slam without any warm-up carries significant risks. Although Djokovic has previously won the Australian Open four times without playing warm-up tournaments, those were during his peak years. The current situation is very different. The 2025 season has been plagued by injuries; he retired from the Australian Open semifinals due to a hamstring tear and failed to reach the final stages at Wimbledon and the US Open because of physical exhaustion. Warm-up events are not just about regaining feel but also crucial for testing fitness and adapting to conditions. Skipping this step and facing the intense five-set battles directly will be a severe test for his body.

What’s even more worrying is the form of his opponents. Young players like Alcaraz and Sinner are on the rise. Alcaraz has been refining his serve during the off-season and is in better shape than ever; Sinner, the defending Australian Open champion, is gaining more match experience. These younger players not only have greater stamina but are also using warm-up tournaments to find their best form, while Djokovic can only rely on closed training sessions. If he starts slow, he risks being exploited by his rivals.

That said, Djokovic is a legend with 24 Grand Slam titles, and no one matches his experience and ability to adjust during big matches. His withdrawal is likely a reluctant decision—rather than risking further injury in a warm-up event, he prefers to concentrate on preparing for the Australian Open. Nevertheless, this withdrawal casts a shadow over his Grand Slam campaign for the new season. To claim his 11th Australian Open title and pursue a 25th Grand Slam, Djokovic now faces unprecedented challenges.

But people are used to believing he is a legend, the one who turns all impossibilities into reality…

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