Djokovic admits undisclosed health issues behind difficult 2026 season
Djokovic admits undisclosed health issues behind difficult 2026 season
Novak Djokovic has revealed that an undisclosed health issue, not his stamina, is behind a difficult 2026 season after he needed another medical timeout during his China Open win in Beijing on Friday.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion recovered from a set down to beat China’s Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the last 16, extending his perfect record at the tournament to 31 wins without defeat.
Medical timeout mars China Open win
Djokovic, 39, required treatment during the three-set victory over the world number 104, continuing a worrying pattern. He also needed a medical timeout during his opening-round win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges in Beijing.
Speaking after the match, the Serb said he had been managing several health problems through the season but did not want to reveal details.
“I don’t want to go into details because then it’s going to sound like I’m whining about something or looking for excuses,” Djokovic said.
“Truth is that this year has been a big, big struggle for me with few particular issues that I’ve been having.”
“It’s not stamina. It’s something else”
Djokovic was keen to correct the suggestion that his problems were about physical conditioning.
“Most of the matches and tournaments this year that I’ve played have been a real, real struggle for me physically,” he said. “That’s nothing to do with stamina. People mix it up. It’s not stamina. It’s something else. More related to health.”
He added that he and his team were still trying to identify the cause of the problem.
A season of setbacks for Djokovic
The admission sheds light on a testing year for the former world number one. Djokovic has dropped out of the world’s top 10 and suffered a shock first-round defeat to Alejandro Tabilo at the US Open, his earliest Grand Slam exit since the 2006 Australian Open. He vomited during that match and was troubled by back and shoulder problems.
The China Open has been a happy hunting ground for Djokovic. A six-time champion in Beijing, he is playing the ATP 500 event for the first time in 11 years and has never lost there.
FAQs
What did Djokovic say about his health?
Djokovic said undisclosed health issues have made 2026 “a big, big struggle”, stressing the problem is “not stamina” but “more related to health”.
Who did Djokovic beat at the China Open?
He beat China’s Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the last 16 in Beijing on October 2, 2026.
What is Djokovic’s record at the China Open?
Djokovic is a six-time champion in Beijing with a perfect 31-0 record at the tournament.
