Novak Djokovic eyes ‘Sunshine Double’ with hamstring injury behind him

Novak Djokovic is all set to take part in the Indian Wells and the Miami Open and he would look to go deep in both tournaments. The Serbian was recently stunned by Matteo Berrettini in the opening round of the Qatar Open.

Meanwhile, Djokovic made it to the semifinal of the Australian Open but was forced to retire after losing the opening set against Alexander Zverev due to a hamstring injury.

The former World No.1 was also shocked by Italy’s Luca Nardi in the third round of the Indian Wells Masters in 2024. The Serbian admitted that he hasn’t played at his absolute best in the Sunshine Double since the 2017 season and he would be determined to turn the tables.

“The injury is behind me. I mean, hopefully. I haven’t felt any problems prior to Doha, end of Doha tournament I felt completely fine, as I have felt in the lead-up to Indian Wells, my training weeks,” Djokovic told the Indian Wells press.

“I’ll play the Sunshine Double first time after six years. I haven’t done really well in Indian Wells and Miami ever since 2016 or ’17, and I struggled to find my best game here. I’m not going to get younger, I know that. But I definitely look to go deep in the tournament. I’ve done, I think, the right things in preparation,” Djokovic said.

Meanwhile, Djokovic will be looking to win the Sunshine Double for the fifth time in his career. Roger Federer (3), Jim Courier (1), Michael Change (1), Pete Sampras (1), Marcelo Rios (1) and Andre Agassi (1) are the others to win the Sunshine Double. Iga Swiatek (2022), Victoria Azarenka (2016) and Kim Clijsters (2005) are the women to have achieved the feat of Sunshine Double (winning Indian Wells and Miami Open in the same season).

Djokovic won both the Indian Wells and Miami Open in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

The Serbian will begin his Indian Wells campaign against Botic van de Zandschulp on Sunday.