Tim Henman expresses concern over Novak Djokovic’s performance
Tim Henman has voiced apprehensions regarding Novak Djokovic’s performance, despite the Serbian advancing to the semi-finals of the Australian Open following Lorenzo Musetti’s injury withdrawal. Djokovic was trailing by two sets when Musetti was forced to retire, reports BritPanorama.
This unexpected turn of events means that Djokovic has secured a place in the last four, with the 38-year-old continuing his pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title, which would place him ahead of Margaret Court’s record. Following the match, Henman articulated his concern over Djokovic’s consistency, a key factor for any player at this level.
“He will be disappointed with his level,” said Henman, acknowledging that Djokovic’s performance had been “fairly ordinary.” He pointed out that the 38-year-old finds himself physically rested but technically uncertain as he reaches the semi-finals, underscoring an unusual situation for a player of Djokovic’s caliber.
Having seen Musetti withdraw while ahead in the match, Henman remarked on Djokovic’s recent path to the semi-finals, which included a walkover in the preceding round. “He has just had somebody pull out at two sets to love after a walkover in the previous round, so there is no doubt he is fresh – but now the question mark is his level of play,” he noted.
Henman declined to discount Djokovic entirely, highlighting his potential to “turn it on in the latter stages of a Grand Slam.” However, the statistics from the match painted a concerning picture: Djokovic committed 32 unforced errors and won merely 39 percent of points on his second serve. His service games appeared particularly vulnerable, with Musetti managing to break through on five occasions before his untimely exit.
Djokovic himself acknowledged Musetti’s superiority in the match, admitting he was “lucky” to progress further in the tournament. Strikingly, this marks a period where Djokovic has failed to claim a single set since the third round, a troubling statistic given he received a walkover in the fourth round when Jakub Mensik withdrew.
Jim Courier suggested that the lack of competitive play before the semi-finals may have disrupted Djokovic’s rhythm. “Maybe it’s the day off and a lack of rhythm from not having a match in the fourth round, maybe that threw him off a little bit,” he speculated.
Courier firmly stated that Djokovic has work ahead of him, insisting he should be focusing intensely to prepare for his upcoming match against either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton. “If I’m on his team tomorrow, I want him to have a hard hour and play some points and try to get some intensity into it,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Jamie Murray described Musetti’s exit as “incredibly unlucky,” reflecting on how the Italian was “fully in control of that match” while Djokovic struggled to find his form. He suggested that while Djokovic might be relieved to have advanced, he will need to significantly improve to compete at the expected level against formidable opponents.
As Djokovic steps onto the court for the semi-finals, the stakes will be high. The pressure is mounting, not just from the pursuit of further titles but also from the need to regain his lost momentum. Whether he can swiftly rediscover his form remains a question that will capture the attention of fans and analysts alike.
