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Rachel V Thomas

Novak Djokovic’s Health Struggles At US Open: Are The Demands Of Elite Tennis Becoming Too Much?

<span>Novak Djokovic</span>, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years after crashing out in the first round of the US Open with a five-set defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone.

<span>Djokovic</span> was left in tears after bouts of vomiting, cramping and pain. He also relied on multiple medical timeouts, an inhaler and pills to stay on the court.

“I despised every moment I was on the court,” Djokovic told the media after the match, adding that he had been dealing with similar issues throughout the season.

“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” he said.

Djokovic described how his body broke down during the match.

“Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. The back just gave up in the end and my shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out,” he added.

The defeat ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a 25th Grand Slam title at this year’s US Open.

<strong>Also read: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/47-year-old-assam-doctor-dies-after-collapsing-in-the-gym-when-can-exercise-trigger-a-cardiac-emergency-article-156013040" data-type="tilCustomLink">47-Year-Old Assam Doctor Dies After Collapsing In The Gym: When Can Exercise Trigger A Cardiac Emergency?</a>

Earlier this month at the <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/novak-djokovic-reveals-long-term-health-issue-ahead-of-us-open-article-155708660" data-type="tilCustomLink">Cincinnati Open,</a> Djokovic, who holds the all-time men’s record of 428 weeks as world No. 1 in singles, also struggled physically throughout his second-round match.

The 39-year-old was seen crouching on all fours between points, required a medical timeout and appeared to vomit into towels as extreme heat and humidity took a toll.

He then suffered a surprising second-round defeat, losing to Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Following the defeat, Djokovic revealed that he had been dealing with a longstanding health condition that becomes particularly difficult to manage in hot and humid conditions.

“It’s because of a health issue I have,” Djokovic told reporters after the match. “I’ve been dealing with it for many years now. It causes me a lot of problems, especially when there’s a lot of humidity and heat.”

<h2>Is Elite Tennis Becoming Too Demanding?</h2>

<strong>Read More: </strong><a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/fifa-world-cup-2026-what-keeps-messi-and-ronaldo-biologically-younger-than-their-age-experts-explain-article-154582345" data-type="tilCustomLink">What Keeps Messi and Ronaldo Biologically Younger Than Their Age? Experts Explain</a>

Djokovic is not alone in facing physical challenges. His exit comes after world No. 1 <span>Jannik Sinner</span> withdrew from the tournament due to injury, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz entered the event after a long break.

Other names include Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti and France’s Arthur Fils who missed earlier <span>Grand Slams</span> in 2026 with injuries, and No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina managing a heel injury ahead of her opener.

Together, these developments raise a broader question: Are the demands of elite tennis becoming too much for even the world’s best players?

While Djokovic has not revealed the nature of his illness, he told reporters that he is “trying” to address the ailment.

<h2>Age, Recovery And The Demands Of Tennis</h2>

In 2023, Djokovic acknowledged that his body was beginning to feel the effects of a long career, although he still felt he had fuel left in the tank.

“The desire is still there, but things can change quickly – I am 36, I’ve been a pro for 20 years.”

He said he did not view age as a decisive factor, instead focusing on his overall physical condition and whether he continued to enjoy playing.

Age can affect tennis performance through changes such as reduced muscle mass, slower recovery and lower aerobic capacity, which can also increase injury risk.

In addition to performance pressures, the grueling schedules of the ATP and WTA Tours that span nearly 11 months of the year, give athletes limited time to rest and recover from injuries.

At the same time, rising global temperatures and intense matches lasting up to five hours have added further physical challenges.  

“We’re losing the battle overall despite the advances in sports medicine,” Neeru Jayanthi, who leads the tennis medicine programme at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, told The Straits Times.

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Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, suffered his earliest Grand Slam exit in 20 years after crashing out in the first round of the US Open with a five-set defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone.Djokovic was left in tears after bouts of vomiting, cramping and pain. He also relied on multiple medical timeouts, an inhaler and pills to stay on the court.“I despised every moment I was on the court,” Djokovic told the media after the match, adding that he had been dealing with similar issues throughout the season.“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year,” he said.Djokovic described how his body broke down during the match.“Vomiting, throwing up, a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and pain. The back just gave up in the end and my shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out,” he added.The defeat ended Djokovic’s hopes of winning a 25th Grand Slam title at this year’s US Open.Also read: 47-Year-Old Assam Doctor Dies After Collapsing In The Gym: When Can Exercise Trigger A Cardiac Emergency?Similar Struggles In CincinnatiEarlier this month at the Cincinnati Open, Djokovic, who holds the all-time men’s record of 428 weeks as world No. 1 in singles, also struggled physically throughout his second-round match.The 39-year-old was seen crouching on all fours between points, required a medical timeout and appeared to vomit into towels as extreme heat and humidity took a toll.      He then suffered a surprising second-round defeat, losing to Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.Following the defeat, Djokovic revealed that he had been dealing with a longstanding health condition that becomes particularly difficult to manage in hot and humid conditions.“It’s because of a health issue I have,” Djokovic told reporters after the match. “I’ve been dealing with it for many years now. It causes me a lot of problems, especially when there’s a lot of humidity and heat.”Is Elite Tennis Becoming Too Demanding?Read More: What Keeps Messi and Ronaldo Biologically Younger Than Their Age? Experts ExplainDjokovic is not alone in facing physical challenges. His exit comes after world No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to injury, while defending champion Carlos Alcaraz entered the event after a long break.Other names include Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti and France’s Arthur Fils who missed earlier Grand Slams in 2026 with injuries, and No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina managing a heel injury ahead of her opener.Together, these developments raise a broader question: Are the demands of elite tennis becoming too much for even the world’s best players?While Djokovic has not revealed the nature of his illness, he told reporters that he is “trying” to address the ailment.Age, Recovery And The Demands Of TennisIn 2023, Djokovic acknowledged that his body was beginning to feel the effects of a long career, although he still felt he had fuel left in the tank.“The desire is still there, but things can change quickly – I am 36, I’ve been a pro for 20 years.”He said he did not view age as a decisive factor, instead focusing on his overall physical condition and whether he continued to enjoy playing.Age can affect tennis performance through changes such as reduced muscle mass, slower recovery and lower aerobic capacity, which can also increase injury risk.Year-round Tours, Extreme HeatIn addition to performance pressures, the grueling schedules of the ATP and WTA Tours that span nearly 11 months of the year, give athletes limited time to rest and recover from injuries.At the same time, rising global temperatures and intense matches lasting up to five hours have added further physical challenges.  “We’re losing the battle overall despite the advances in sports medicine,” Neeru Jayanthi, who leads the tennis medicine programme at Emory Healthcare in Atlanta, told The Straits Times.

novak djokovic’s health struggles at us open: are the demands of elite tennis becoming too much?

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