Former tennis stars worry about Djokovic: “This isn’t because of his age, something is wrong”

Novak Djokovic’s recent struggles look less like the inevitable decline of a 39-year-old and more like an unresolved health problem, according to former American players John Isner and Sam Querrey.

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At 39, you can’t expect him to be at the level he was in previous years. Still, it seems to me that he is battling some acute illness that he can’t get rid of. To me, this looks more like a battle with illness than simply being finished at 39.

Isner pointed to Djokovic’s results earlier this season as evidence that age alone does not explain the sudden drop. The Serbian reached the Australian Open final and the Wimbledon semifinals, showing that he could still compete at the highest level. Isner said Djokovic is clearly not at his best, but added: “At 39, you can’t expect him to be at the level he was in previous years. Still, it seems to me that he is battling some acute illness that he can’t get rid of. To me, this looks more like a battle with illness than simply being finished at 39.”

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If he somehow manages to get through this and return fully healthy, I think we will still see him playing very well at the Grand Slams, of course, if he still wants to compete in the big tournaments. Right now, that illness is destroying him.

Isner acknowledged that nobody outside Djokovic’s closest circle knows what is happening. Even so, he believes Djokovic could again challenge for major titles if he resolves the problem and returns to full health. “If he somehow manages to get through this and return fully healthy, I think we will still see him playing very well at the Grand Slams, of course, if he still wants to compete in the big tournaments,” Isner said. “Right now, that illness is destroying him.”

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That vomiting on court, as in Cincinnati, and his generally poor appearance... That is not just the result of age, but of the fact that he is ill. Something is currently wrong with him.

Querrey reached a similar conclusion after watching Djokovic struggle in recent weeks, including during a match in Cincinnati. “That vomiting on court, as in Cincinnati, and his generally poor appearance... That is not just the result of age, but of the fact that he is ill. Something is currently wrong with him,” he said. Querrey has not ruled out Djokovic winning a 25th major, particularly if his health improves and the results of other contenders work in his favor. Djokovic has confirmed recent health difficulties but has not disclosed details. After his first-round US Open defeat, he did not announce a retirement, leaving open whether he can regain the form that brought him his biggest titles.

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Whatever anyone says, he is not that far away. Carlos has minor injury problems, and Jannik does too. If circumstances fall into place, he may manage it, but it is obviously getting harder.