John McEnroe has made a worrying prediction about the fitness of Novak Djokovic, after footage emerged of him in the gym yesterday.
Previewing his Wimbledon match against Flavio Cobolli, he, Tracy Austin and Claire Balding discussed the 38-year-old’s chances not only of beating the Italian but of going on to win the title.
With a reputation like his, it’s often hard to discount him.
McEnroe is well aware of this, and yet did find it hard to be totally positive after watching Novak Djokovic receive what looked like a stomach massage just days after he was pictured icing his stomach mid-match too.
It is this footage, even after Djokovic suffered a nasty fall during his win over Cobolli, which remains a worry.
John McEnroe predicts Novak Djokovic might be injured
Speaking live on the BBC just yesterday, McEnroe was optimistic about Djokovic’s chances of going the distance at Wimbledon this year.
However, he also feared the worst after watching a video of the Serbian getting his stomach massaged after icing it during his win over Alex de Minaur.
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The American admitted: “He understands the nuance of this court better than anyone. Only Alcaraz, you know, with his game, has figured out a way to show that he’s human.”
Ahead of his match with Cobolli though, McEnroe then stated: “There’s a little bit of uncertainty coming into this match just because of what, you know, has been going on throughout the draw with the stomach. I don’t know what’s going on. I mean, he’s just stretching. I’ve never seen someone ice their stomach during the match.
“I mean, stress goes, at least with me, you know, it goes to your neck, your back, lower back or your stomach, you know, and could be all three on a bad day.
“So, to me, some of it’s that, because as you just said, I mean, he thinks his best shot is here.
“So, you know, he might be putting extra pressure on himself, but he wants to break every record that exists, the GOAT, get to 25, win this. So, he’s human, he’s feeling something, knowing that even he, how many more chances am I going to have to win majors? You know, and even for him, it’s got to be dwindling.”
One of Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner will lose a record
Similarly to when Sinner met Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the French Open, records are on the line for both players when the former meets Djokovic in the Wimbledon semi-final.
On that Parisian occasion, somebody’s unbeaten record in Grand Slam finals had to go as they met at that stage for the first time in their careers.
And whilst it is not invincibility on the line for the players on this occasion, there is still plenty to defend.
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For Sinner, he is currently enjoying a four-match win streak against Djokovic, and a loss would mark his first against the former world number one since November 2023.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is on a run of making six-straight Wimbledon finals, bidding to make a seventh.
One of these records must go when they face each other on Friday.