"Hypocritical, Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz have raised questions": Fans slam Spanish journalist over baseless claims about Novak Djokovic's recovery

A Spanish journalist's work has drawn angry reactions from Novak Djokovic loyalists. The journalist wrote that, based on information from unnamed sources, the Serb may have used potentially prohibited substances to recover from the surgery he underwent to treat the meniscus tear he sustained in his right knee at the French Open.

Djokovic's meniscus tear occurred during his fourth-round clash against Francisco Cerundolo at Roland Garros. While the Serb took painkillers which allowed him to complete the match and miraculously win the five-set thriller, he would later withdraw from the claycourt Major before his quarterfinal against Casper Ruud, citing the need to undergo surgery. Following the successful completion of the surgery, the 24-time Major winner was on crutches.

However, the Serb was soon back in training, and later arrived at Wimbledon to prepare for the prestigious grasscourt Major, even though he is yet to confirm his participation. Recently, journalist Victor Eduardo Garcia wrote an article titled 'WIMBLEDON 2024: THE HIDDEN TRUTH IN NOVAK DJOKOVIC'S MIRACULOUS RECOVERY', which was published on the website of the weekly Spanish newspaper Que! Part of the the article read:

"Sources close to the Serbian tennis player's team have revealed details that could change the way his return to the courts is perceived. According to these sources, Djokovic would have used unconventional and potentially prohibited methods to speed up his recovery from an injury that, according to experts, would normally require a much longer rehabilitation time."

Djokovic's fans on X (formerly Twitter), clearly angered by the article and the claims within it, lashed out at the journalist. One set wrote about how Spanish players Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, despite having made quick recoveries in the past from serious injuries, are rarely questioned by journalists in Spain. This set also included a fan who cited the lack of questions for Taylor Fritz, who recovered from the same injury and subsequent surgery in 20 days ahead of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships.

"Hypocritical, considering their own players Nadal & Alcaraz have raised lots of questions about their methods for recovery and playing e.g Alcaraz suffered a grade 2 ankle sprain, recovered within 2.5 weeks and won a masters. Nadal used epidural injections for 2 weeks and won FO," one fan wrote.

"Did these so-called spanish "journalists" investigate nadal's MIRACULOUS RECOVERY then win the RG title in 2022？lol, ridiculous," wrote another fan.

"Spanish journo accusing an athlete of using illicit substances --the very definition of throwing stones while sitting in a glass house. Bring it on. We can then discuss TUEs of Spanish tennis players, their buff appearance & disappearing of tainted blood samples," another fan commented.

"If Taylor Fritz recovers with the same injury in 20 days its conventional but if Novak does it with more than 20 days then its unconventional. I heard this script before and these narratives from westen media. They are bunch of losers," yet another fan chimed in.

Another set of fans opined that what the journalist has done amounts to blatant defamation.

"Accusations of cheating with no specifics are just trolling. From a journalist...they are defamation," wrote a fan.

"You know you can be sued for defamation. What illegal methods? Who are your sources? "acc. to experts, would normally require a much longer rehabilitation time" The only experts here are his doctors who didn't anticipate a much longer rehab," another irate fan wrote.

"Novak must sue," another fan weighed in.

Taylor Fritz is not surprised about Novak Djokovic's rapid recovery ahead of the Wimbledon Championships

Taylor Fritz

Fritz recently revealed that Djokovic had made contact with him to understand the recovery process better due to the same injuries and surgeries that they both experienced three years apart. The 2022 BNP Paribas Open champion later went on to express his lack of surprise at the Serb's quick return to training, saying that the seven-time Wimbledon winner can very well play at SW19 this year.

"It’s just about recovering from the actual surgery itself, not any muscular thing. So I’m not surprised. I believe he got in to do surgery before. I think his recovery time, I think he has more time than I had, actually. I know for a fact my first match at Wimbledon was exactly 20 days after my surgery. So I played a little less than three weeks after my surgery," Fritz said.

At this point, only Djokovic has the answers to clear the air surrounding his 2024 Wimbledon participation, and he is expected to do that by the time the main draw matches commence at SW19 on Monday, July 1.