ATP Finals 2022: Novak Djokovic suffers health scare at year-end tournament

There were genuine concerns for Novak Djokovic’s well-being as he sat down at the end of the second set of his match against Daniil Medvedev at the ATP Finals. With his right hand shaking uncontrollably and his agitated appearance implying a health crisis, it seemed impossible that the 21-time Grand Slam champion could play another full set and win a tie-break against his Russian opponent. That was the story in Turin, with the fluid Djokovic drank from the bottles his courtside team had prepared for him clearly having a positive impact on his physical state.

Djokovic was seen at one point inhaling from a plastic bottle and taking a powered substance to help him get through the challenge he was facing. And, despite not appearing to be at ease at any point in the third set, he found a way to finish the match and win, displaying the heart of a champion. Djokovic was already guaranteed to win his group and face Taylor Fritz in the semi-finals on Saturday, but he dug deep to avoid defeat, winning 6-3 6-7 (5) 7-6 (2) in three hours and 11 minutes.

“It was quite alarming,” declared former British No 1 Annabel Croft. “Novak is already through to the semi-finals of this event, so you wondered whether he might pull out at the end of that second set because he looked very unwell. Extraordinary scenes, I’ve never seen anything like it. He looked in control of the match and then he left the court at 5-4 and he lost a little bit of momentum, but he was clearly having physical problems.”

“Seeing him like this… he’s not even walking properly. He is stumbling, he was looking so unwell, his right hand shaking. I couldn’t imagine he would want to continue the match. There is a lot to digest at the end. He left everything out there on the court and it underlined the character of Novak Djokovic and why he has won 21 Grand Slams.”

“He was really suffering physically. He looked like he was going to be sick, his hand was really really shaking. I’ve never ever seen that from him. I don’t know whether he had low blood sugar level and whether he hadn’t eaten the right things. I’m sure his team will look into it. Then the rallies became so physical and it was a phenomenal contest.”