New Delhi: Novak Djokovic made a comeback from injury at the Qatar Open 2025 in Doha on Monday. Djokovic made a winning return as he paired up with veteran Spanish player Fernando Verdcasco to win their men’s doubles opener at the ATP 500 tournament in Doha. It was Djokovic’s first game since he picked up a muscle injury which forced him to pull out of the Australian Open 2025 midway through the tournament last month.
Djokovic and Verdasco defeated the pair of Alexander Bublik and Karen Khachanov in straight sets in the opening round of the men’s doubles in Doha on Monday. Djokovic and Verdasco won the match 6-1, 6-1 in dominant fashion to progress to the next round of the tournament.
41-year-old Verdasco recently announced that he will be retiring from professional tennis after the Qatar Open 2025. He had requested Djokovic to pair up with him in the men’s doubles for the last tournament of his career and the 24-time Grand Slam champion happily agreed to extend the Spaniard’s tennis career.
41-year-old Verdasco has not played a professional match since September last year when he announced that he will be quitting the sport after the Qatar Open 2025 in Doha this year. The Spanish veteran had also turned to coaching but decided to get a proper swansong by playing doubles in his final tournament in Doha.
“I have to say that maybe after this match, I shouldn’t play second round and I just go, retire, winning one of one. Maybe it’s the best thing ever,” Verdasco said after the match, laughing. But the Spaniard insisted he wants to compete in the 2nd round where the pair will face second-seeded British-Finnish pair of Henry Patten and Harri Heliovaara.
Comment team names below! 👇@DjokerNole and @FerVerdasco defeat Bublik/Khachanov 6-1 6-1 to advance in Doha#qatarexxonmobilopen pic.twitter.com/tFKbGOr5HI
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 17, 2025
Novak Djokovic eyes 100th career title in Doha
Djokovic will also begin his singles campaign at the Qatar Open 2025 in Doha on Tuesday, February 17. The Serbian ace will be taking on Italian Matteo Berrettini in the opening round of the men’s singles. It will be a rematch of the 2021 Wimbledon final where Djokovic defeated the Italian 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Currently sitting on 99 singles titles in his career so far, Djokovic will be looking to add a 100th title to his tally by winning the Qatar Open 2025.
Djokovic had to retire from his semi-final clash against Germany’s Alexander Zverev during the Australian Open 2025 last month after tearing a muscle in his left leg. The Serbian has had a swift recovery and will be hoping to ease into the competition.
Novak Djokovic made a winning return from injury suffered at the Australian Open 2025 earlier this year as he paired up with Fernando Verdasco to win a doubles match at the Qatar Open 2025 in Doha. Tennis Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
