Novak Djokovic is currently in Spain, gearing up for the upcoming Masters 1000 Madrid Open. He has been spotted training on clay courts in Marbella and recently attended a EuroLeague basketball game between Real Madrid and Red Star Belgrade, accompanied by former Real Madrid player Luka Doncic.
During an interview on the basketball court, the 38-year-old Serbian tennis star, who last competed against Jack Draper in the fourth round of Indian Wells and recently reached the Australian Open final, expressed doubt about his participation in the Masters 1000 tournament, scheduled to begin next week (April 22nd to May 3rd).
“I hope to participate in the competition here, I’m working towards it. I’m not sure… I’ve had some physical difficulties with an injury, so I’m trying to recover and play for as long as possible,” Djokovic stated. He also reflected on his current approach to sports, noting, “Now I have a bit more time, I don’t play as much, so I have the opportunity to enjoy other sports and great athletic qualities.”
Djokovic’s primary goal is likely to be in peak condition for the next Grand Slam. To achieve this, he needs to train and acclimatize to clay courts before the start of Roland Garros on May 18th, which concludes on June 7th. With the Madrid Open draw scheduled for next Monday, seeded players like Djokovic, currently ranked fourth in the world, will not commence their play until the second round, around Saturday, April 25th.