Djokovic Reveals Decades-Long Health Issue Affecting His Game

With just two weeks to go before he bids for a record 25th Grand Slamat the U.S. Open, tennis legend Novak Djokovic revealed he’s been dealing with a health issue for many years now.

Djokovic, 39, struggled in his first match back at the Cincinnati Open, losing to Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante in straight sets.

During the match, Djokovic appeared to vomit into a towel and was seen bending over in the heat, even dropping to his hands and knees after a particularly difficult point.

“First and foremost, I congratulate my opponent today,” Djokovic told reporters after the match. “Honestly, it hasn’t been a pleasant match for me. That’s how I’ve felt. It hasn’t been the first time, and it won’t be the last.”

Djokovic attributed his struggles to a health issue he has been dealing with for many years.

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“The conditions aren’t the problem. It’s because of a health issue I have. I’ve been dealing with it for many years now. It causes me a lot of problems, especially when there’s a lot of humidity and heat,” Djokovic explained.

Djokovic did not go into greater detail on the specifics of his health issue.

When asked if he thinks he’ll play Cincinnati again next year, Djokovic expressed doubts.

“Unfortunately, at this point, it seems more likely that I won’t be back next year,” he said. “But let’s see what the future holds, I hope I do.”