Andy Roddick, former world number one, has expressed surprise at Novak Djokovic’s swift return to tennis following an injury sustained at the Australian Open in early 2025. According to Roddick, a medical expert suggested the injury would sideline Djokovic for a significant period, leading Roddick to believe the Serbian star would be out of action until at least the Monte Carlo Masters in April. Djokovic, however, has defied expectations by returning to compete much sooner, leaving Roddick and others in the tennis world astonished.
Roddick’s Initial Assessment and Expert Opinion
During a recent podcast episode of Served with Andy Roddick, Roddick discussed Djokovic’s injury and his initial thoughts on the recovery timeline. After Djokovic posted an image of his MRI scan on social media, Roddick consulted an orthopedic friend for a professional opinion.
“Sent it to Orthopedic friend of mine he’s like oh gosh normally that would take you know a while it’d be six weeks,” Roddick stated on his podcast, Served With Andy Roddick.
Based on this assessment, Roddick anticipated that Djokovic would likely miss several tournaments and wouldn’t return to the court until the Monte Carlo Masters in April. This timeline seemed plausible given the nature of the injury, which Djokovic revealed to be a muscle tear.
Djokovic’s Speedy Recovery Defies Expectations
Despite the initial prognosis, Djokovic made a surprisingly quick recovery. He returned to the tour in Doha in mid-February, just weeks after retiring from the Australian Open semifinal due to the injury. He is currently competing at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, a development that has caught many off guard.
Roddick admitted he was wrong in predicting when Djokovic would play again after his Australian Open injury. “Gets hurt, puts out the image of a tear, and I just assume and I always get it wrong, because I apply what it would take most people to recover from something. I didn’t think we were going to see Novak,” Roddick stated.
The Nature of Djokovic’s Injury
Djokovic sustained the injury during the Australian Open, where he struggled with a hamstring issue. He faced Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, taking a medical timeout for a left leg injury, but managed to win in four sets. However, the injury worsened, leading to his retirement in the semifinal match against Alexander Zverev.
After the Australian Open exit, Djokovic shared his MRI scans on X to dispel doubts about the legitimacy of his injury. The scans revealed a hamstring tear, which typically requires a significant recovery period.
Djokovic’s Determination and the BNP Paribas Open
Djokovic’s swift recovery and return to the BNP Paribas Open have been met with both surprise and admiration. Roddick acknowledged that the tournament organizers likely didn’t expect Djokovic to be able to compete in Indian Wells.
“But all of a sudden you know I’m sure at the end of Australia, Indian Wells thought and Tommy Haas thought they had no chance of Novak posting for this,” Roddick said.
Djokovic has a bye in the first round and could potentially face Nick Kyrgios in the second round. His performance at Indian Wells will be closely watched as he aims for his 100th career title.
Earlier Knee Surgery and Recovery
It’s also worth noting that Djokovic had knee surgery in June 2024 to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, forcing him to withdraw from the French Open. He targeted a return “as soon as possible” after the surgery and was back in the gym just a week later. This earlier experience with injury and recovery may have contributed to his ability to bounce back quickly from the hamstring tear.
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