Novak Djokovic has revealed he will likely try to play through his knee injury at the 2024 Paris Olympics “even if the doctor says it’s not okay.”
The Serbian legend highlighted the fact that chances to fight for a medal for his country are “very rare” as he signalled his intention to do everything he can to achieve his goal.
Djokovic is set to face Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals of the Olympics on Friday, but there are major doubts over his fitness after his quarter-final win against Stefanos Tsitsipas on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Early in the second set of his 6-3, 7-6(3) victory against the world No 11 on Thursday, Djokovic hurt his right knee — the same knee in which he tore the medial meniscus at the French Open two months ago.
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“I am very worried, honestly, I don’t know what to say,” he said in a post-match interview. “I finished the match, and the intense pain went away. Whether I hit myself or slipped, I don’t even know.
“It all resembled the fourth round of Roland Garros where I managed to finish the match, and then I found out I was injured. I am pleased with the victory, but I am worried.”
Djokovic’s admission added to fears he may not be able to play against Musetti, but he has asserted that he intends to try.
“Even if the doctor says it’s not okay, I’ll probably get on the court and give it a try,” the world No 2 clarified to the media.
“These are very rare chances to fight for a medal for my country, so I’m going to do everything possible in the next 24 hours to put myself in a position to fight for a medal for Serbia.”
At 37, Djokovic may be competing at the Olympics for the final time, and an injury would be a cruel way to end his dream of winning the only significant tennis prize he is yet to secure.
If Djokovic beats Musetti to progress to an Olympic gold medal match for the first time in his career, he will face either Carlos Alcaraz or Felix Auger-Aliassime.
