Novak Djokovic is in the news right now mainly because of a mix of injury worries, some big slices of luck, and new milestones during the 2026 Australian Open.

What happened with Djokovic?

1. Quick scoop (right now)

  • He pulled out of the Adelaide International at the start of 2026, saying he wasn’t physically ready and wanted to focus on preparing for the Australian Open.
  • At the Australian Open 2026, he has reached the semifinals, but in a very unusual way: two of his opponents retired injured while leading or in strong positions.
  • His quarterfinal against Lorenzo Musetti became a big talking point: Musetti was up two sets to none before getting injured and retiring, which Djokovic himself described as being “extremely fortunate” for him.
  • Simply by playing this Australian Open run, he also hit a huge career milestone: his 1,400th tour‑level match, becoming only the third man in history to reach that number.

2. The Adelaide withdrawal

Before Melbourne, fans were already asking “what’s going on with Djokovic?” because he skipped his usual warm‑up event.

  • He announced on social media that he was withdrawing from the Adelaide International, saying he was “not quite physically ready” to compete.
  • He mentioned he was disappointed because he has good memories there and had won the tournament before, but stressed that his focus was on getting ready for the Australian Open.
  • This fed into the broader narrative of his body starting to feel the grind at 38 years old.

3. The “lucky” run in Melbourne

Djokovic’s 2026 Australian Open campaign has had a strange, almost cinematic twist that’s driving a lot of forum and social discussion.

  • Fourth round: Jakub Mensik withdrew with an abdominal problem, which sent Djokovic through with less wear and tear than expected.
  • Quarterfinal: Lorenzo Musetti outplayed Djokovic early, went up two sets to none, and looked on the verge of a huge upset before a thigh injury forced him to retire.
  • Djokovic openly admitted he felt “extremely fortunate” and relieved, acknowledging that he had been struggling badly and that the injury twist essentially saved his tournament.

Because of these retirements, he has only played 11 sets en route to the semifinals, far fewer than you’d normally expect in such a tough Slam run.

4. Form, injuries, and fan debates

A lot of the current “what happened with Djokovic” chatter is really about his form, his body, and whether he’s at the end of his absolute peak.

  • Physically, reports say he feels generally okay but is dealing with issues like a blister on his foot and the lingering background of past leg problems.
  • Journalists and fans note that he’s been unusually error‑prone in some matches, especially against Musetti, where his unforced error count was high and his level looked off before the injury turned things around.
  • This contrasts with his history at the Australian Open, where he has often fought through serious injuries (like the hamstring and abdominal problems in earlier years) and still managed to win.

On forums and social media, you see a mix of viewpoints:

  • Some say he’s “finished” at the very top level and is being kept alive in the draw by luck and opponent injuries.
  • Others argue that surviving messy matches and taking advantage of luck is exactly what great champions do, especially in the late stage of their careers.
  • There’s also a lot of meme‑y discussion about “the luckiest run ever,” “plot‑armor Djokovic,” and jokes about how opponents keep breaking down just when he looks vulnerable.

5. Records, legacy, and what’s at stake

Underneath the drama, the stakes are massive for his legacy.

  • He is chasing a record‑extending 25th Grand Slam singles title; he hasn’t won a major since the US Open 2023, so this has been a long, highly anticipated push.
  • By stepping on court in Melbourne, he became only the third man to reach 1,400 tour‑level matches, joining Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer, but with the best winning percentage of the three.
  • He has extended his record of Australian Open match wins (over 100 now) and reached yet another Slam semifinal, further stacking his already huge numbers.

So, in one line: people asking “what happened with Djokovic” are reacting to this mix of aging‑star physical issues, a strangely lucky Australian Open path, and the pressure of an historic 25th Slam chase, all colliding at once.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.