Novak Djokovic admits concerns before Italian Open comeback

The interview started with a fitness update, and Djokovic didn’t sound thrilled to answer. His response was blunt and not particularly encouraging: “Well, I’m ready enough to compete.”

He added: “I’m not really the happiest with, you know, the level of tennis or where I am with my movement or the physical, I guess, state, but it’s getting there. It’s getting there.

“I wanted to be back on the tour earlier, but I couldn’t. I was injured and so I had to deal with it progressively and I’m here in Rome where always love coming back and I’ve had a great success so I’m excited you know excited to be back in competition.”

However, his mood improved when talk turned to Rome itself – a place where he has lifted six titles.

He said: “It’s called the tennis Colosseum right for a reason.”

“Amazing crowd honestly the amount of people that come and watch the tournament venue is so historic beautiful just epic to be part of this tournament in every sense.”

Novak Djokovic supports Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner’s boycott claim

Although Djokovic’s comeback is big news, the conversation around tennis has been dominated by talk of a potential Grand Slam boycott.

Aryna Sabalenka has been vocal about players wanting a larger share of revenue from the sport’s biggest events, with others like Coco Gauff and Jannik Sinner backing that stance.

Djokovic addressed the topic during his press conference. While he made it clear he isn’t leading this particular movement, he did offer his backing to those pushing for change.

He claimed: “The players know they will always have my support, and that’s all that matters. The new generations are coming, and I’m happy to see that leaders of our sport, like Aryna Sabalenka, are ready to step forward and truly understand how tennis politics works, to grasp the nuances and what really needs to be done, not only for their own interest and well-being but for everyone.”