Novak Djokovic has sparked concern ahead of the US Open after attending a baseball game as a special guest. The veteran Serb is hoping to end a two-year Grand Slam title drought in New York over the coming weeks. He has failed to win one since prevailing at the US Open in 2023 and will need to be at his very best to reclaim the honours this year.
Ahead of the tournament starting this weekend, Djokovic was at Yankee Stadium to watch the New York Yankees face the Boston Red Sox. He was tasked with throwing the ceremonial first pitch, an honour usually reserved for celebrity guests. His effort bounced just before the batting plate and was swept up by Yankees catcher Austin Wells.
Djokovic’s pitch was not the only thing which had people talking, with many fans noticing that he was wearing a white arm sleeve. His use of the protective garment sparked fears that he may have been carrying an injury ahead of the US Open.
“He will get injured after losing the first two sets to Learner [Tien] in R1 and take a half hour MTO,” wrote @Bhaskarshe56742 on X (formerly Twitter).
@thegaytennispod asked: “The sleeve mean anything?” while @VishalYesudas quipped: “Saving the arm for the US Open.”
@SharpAGOfficial added: “Tennis legend Novak Djokovic threw out the 1st pitch at Yankee Stadium tonight but did he really need that arm band?”
Djokovic is not known to be carrying an injury, but it remains to be seen if he will keep the sleeve for his opening match against American hopeful Learner Tien.
It comes after Patrick McEnroe suggested that Djokovic could quit tennis if he fails to mount a deep run at the US Open, having fallen adrift of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner over the last two years.
“I think Novak definitely needs some help [to win the US Open],” the American told ESPN. “I think the bigger question we may be asking ourselves by the time this tournament is done, is, will he come back? Will he be back? Because I have my doubts.
“I don’t have any inside information. I don’t think he knows, but what I do know is that he’s not going to continue to play if he doesn’t think he can win. And I think time’s running out for him to win.”
Djokovic will be the seventh seed at the US Open and could potentially face Sinner or Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.
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