Tennis legend declines to comment on fitness concerns or Saudi Arabia exhibition plans following straight-sets loss to qualifier Valentin Vacherot
Novak Djokovic stonewalled questions about his physical condition and upcoming schedule after suffering a stunning straight-sets defeat to qualifier Valentin Vacherot at the Shanghai Masters on Saturday.
The 38-year-old Serbian, who appeared severely hampered throughout the match, called for physiotherapy treatment multiple times for what appeared to be a lower back problem but flatly refused to elaborate on the injury afterwards.
Djokovic’s 6-3, 6-4 loss to the world No 204 marked one of the biggest upsets of the tournament and raised serious questions about his fitness heading into the lucrative Six Kings Slam exhibition in Saudi Arabia later this month.
Medical Timeouts and Visible Discomfort
The four-time Shanghai champion was clearly struggling from the opening exchanges, grimacing repeatedly between points and stretching during changeovers. At 3-4 in the first set, he halted play to receive treatment from the physio on his lower back.
Vacherot, a 26-year-old from Monaco who came through qualifying, produced the performance of his life to reach his first Masters 1000 final, becoming the lowest-ranked finalist in the tournament’s history since 1990.
When pressed about his fitness and whether he would still compete in the Six Kings Slam, which takes place on 15, 16 and 18 October in Riyadh, Djokovic shut down the questioning immediately.
“No. Next Question, Please”
Instead of addressing his injury concerns, the 24-time Grand Slam champion chose to focus entirely on his opponent’s achievement.
“I want to congratulate Valentin for reaching his first Masters final,” Djokovic said. “Going from qualifications, it’s an amazing story. I told him at the net that he’s had an amazing tournament, but more so his attitude is very good, and his game was amazing as well.”
“So it’s all about him. I wish him all the best in the finals, and the better player won today.”
When reporters attempted to return to questions about his health and immediate plans, Djokovic’s response was blunt: “No. Next question, please.”
The curt exchange left journalists speculating about the severity of the issue, which had clearly affected his movement throughout the contest. Despite his obvious discomfort, Djokovic continued to battle through the pain before Vacherot closed out the match.
Week of Physical Struggles
The defeat capped a tournament fraught with physical challenges for Djokovic. Earlier in the week, he collapsed during a brutal encounter with world No 41 Jaume Munar, overcome by suffocating heat and humidity exceeding 82 per cent.
During his third-round match against Yannick Hanfmann, the Serbian vomited courtside multiple times whilst battling through a two-hour, 42-minute comeback victory. He also received treatment for a left ankle problem during that gruelling contest.
On Saturday, Djokovic was seen sticking his head in a courtside bucket in an attempt to compose himself. After saving break point in the first game of the second set, he fell to his knees before rising to continue the fight.
Familiar Faces in Monegasque Quarter
Before the match, Djokovic had spoken warmly about Vacherot, revealing their connection through the Monte-Carlo Country Club where the Serbian has been based for around 15 years.
“I’ve known him for the last couple of years,” Djokovic said earlier in the week. “Obviously he’s ranked 200-plus before this tournament, but he’s been around. He’s playing for Monaco, which is a great success for him and for the country.”
“Benjamin Balleret, his coach, is someone I’ve known for many years because I’ve been based in Monaco for around 15 years. He’s been improving a lot. We always knew he’s got great potential, with a big serve and a big game. He’s a big guy.”
Historic Achievement for Vacherot
Vacherot’s victory makes him only the third player ranked outside the top 200 to defeat Djokovic in ATP Tour history. The former Texas A&M University college tennis player has now risen 146 places to world No 58 in the live rankings and is guaranteed to break into the top 100 for the first time on Monday.
Despite the crushing nature of the defeat, Djokovic shared a warm embrace with the Monegasque player at the net, maintaining his characteristic graciousness in defeat.
Saudi Exhibition in Doubt?
The Serbian’s participation in the Six Kings Slam, where he is guaranteed $1.5 million (£1.15 million) just for appearing, now appears uncertain. The star-studded exhibition will be broadcast live on Netflix and features Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Last year’s inaugural event saw Sinner defeat Djokovic in the final to claim a tennis-record $6 million (£4.6 million) payday. The winner of this year’s edition will receive the same eye-watering sum.
Questions Mount Over Future
As Djokovic nears his 39th birthday in May, the latest setback raises fresh questions about his physical condition and whether he can remain competitive at the highest level.
His silence on his fitness will only add to the intrigue surrounding his next steps. With the Saudi exhibition and the closing stages of the ATP season approaching, his decision in the coming days may provide the clearest signal yet about how long he intends to continue competing at the top of the game.
For now, the tennis world waits to see whether one of the sport’s greatest champions will make the trip to Riyadh or whether his body has finally said enough.
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Image Credit:
Novak Djokovic — photo by Tatiana / Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
