Featured Image Credit: Getty Images
Topics: Baseball, Novak Djokovic, US Open, Tennis
Jonathan Bray
Questions have been raised over Novak Djokovic’s fitness after he threw the first pitch at the Major League Baseball clash between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
The 38-year-old tennis legend looks set to compete for a history-making 25th Grand Slam at the US Open when the men's singles gets underway on Sunday.
Djokovic has already won four US Open titles, the Australian Open 10 times, three French Opens, and seven editions of Wimbledon during his illustrious career.
However, the former world No 1 has struggled to reach the landmark number of 25 despite coming close on several occasions following his last triumph in 2023.
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Since his victory at the US Open two years ago, he has fallen to defeat in the 2024 Wimbledon final against Carlos Alcaraz.
The Serbian star has also been forced to withdraw from several tournaments, including in the semi-finals of the Australian Open earlier this year against Alexander Zverev.
With Djokovic now in the twilight of his career, time is running out to make it to 25 - and now his hopes may have suffered another blow.
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Some fans think the veteran may be suffering from another injury after he wore an arm sleeve to throw the first pitch in the baseball game between two of the USA’s most iconic franchises.
Arm sleeves are used to provide the wearer with additional support and protection, improving their blood flow and increasing the rate of recovery after an injury.
Djokovic has already taken part in a revamped mixed doubles tournament at this year’s US Open.
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He teamed up with his compatriot Olga Danilovic to join a star-studded line-up, but they fell to defeat in their first match against Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev.
Some fans called the tournament an exhibition but Jessica Pegula disagrees, going as far as to publicly scold her doubles partner Jack Draper for suggesting as much.
The draw for the men’s singles at this year’s tournament took place on Thursday, and if fit, Djokovic will face the USA’s Learner Tien in the first round.
Meanwhile, the Red Sox ended up beating The Yankees 6-3 in the first meeting in a four-match series between the two sporting behemoths.