Djokovic reveals health issues: "I feel bitterness…"

Novak Djokovic failed to reach the quarterfinals of the Indian Wells Masters after being defeated by Jack Draper in a hard-fought three-set match. The match was highlighted by a single point, described by commentators as one of the best of the season. While the exact ranking of the point is unclear, after 26 rallies, it was undeniably spectacular.

“Yes, that point cost me a break afterward. It was amazing to win that point in the game, but I completely ran out of gas. I started feeling better as we approached the end of the third set. He played a poor game when he should have closed the match. I fought, had the crowd behind me, and felt the energy. I told myself, ‘Maybe I can still win this.’ It was very close. A few unlucky errors on my part. I was leading 4–3 in the tiebreak, it was 5–5 as well, but that’s tennis,” Djokovic said.

After the loss to Draper in the round of 16, Djokovic admitted he had been struggling physically, particularly with stomach and breathing issues, though he declined to go into detail.

“Stomach… the stomach… then it causes some breathing issues, a little… Well, I don’t want to talk about it now. Of course, there’s disappointment after a loss like this, one point, a couple of shots. I didn’t know statistically that I had won one more point than my opponent today, but the disappointment remains. I got back into the match, the crowd was amazing—it was the best match of this tournament. When you replay it in your mind, you’re always wiser after a battle. I’ve had wins and losses like this; that’s how it is. We move forward,” Djokovic said.

“Right now, I can’t say whether the tournament was good for me. I feel bitterness after losing a match like this, that’s obvious. Still, I’m proud of how I fought and that I gave my all on the court. What I’ll remember most is that I didn’t give up,” he added, before offering words for Draper:

“I lost to a great player after a tough battle that lasted two and a half hours. Of course, I’m disappointed. I just came off the court and am thinking about what I could have done better. But it was a good fight,” Djokovic concluded.

The crowd became increasingly engaged as the match progressed. When asked if he noticed the loud reactions from the stands during certain points, Djokovic responded with understanding:

“I don’t know which specific moment you mean; there were a few. But that’s what it is. That’s the excitement of the crowd. I understand that people sometimes get caught up in the heat of the battle, in a match like tonight’s, and react during points or between them. I don’t judge or criticize anyone. It was an incredible match, both for us on the court and, I believe, for the people in the stands”, Djokovic concluded.