Novak Djokovic Battles Illness and Controversy to Reach Wimbledon Second Round
So, let’s talk about Novak Djokovic’s dramatic opener at Wimbledon 2025. If you caught the match, you know it wasn’t just about tennis—it was about grit, recovery, and, well, a bit of controversy. Djokovic, now 38 and still chasing that elusive 25th Grand Slam title, kicked off his campaign at Centre Court against France’s Alexandre Muller. And for a while, it looked like Novak was in full control. He stormed through the first set in just 30 minutes, barely losing a point on his serve.
But then, everything changed.
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In the second set, things got a little shaky. Muller pushed back, the rallies grew longer, and suddenly, Djokovic wasn't cruising anymore. He lost the set in a tiebreak and started showing visible signs of discomfort. And here’s where the drama really kicked in. Early in the third set, Djokovic called for a medical timeout, something that’s become almost a signature move when he finds himself in trouble. This time, it was due to what he later described as a possible stomach bug. He said he went from feeling his best to his worst in under an hour. Whatever it was, he got treatment and took a pill from the on-court doctor—what he later jokingly called a “miracle pill.”
From that point on, he flipped a switch. Djokovic went on to win 10 of the next 12 games, securing a 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 victory. But of course, tennis Twitter lit up with doubts. Some fans questioned the timing of the timeout—just after losing a set—and speculated whether this was classic Novak, trying to break his opponent’s rhythm and win over the crowd. It’s not the first time he’s been accused of such tactics, and probably won’t be the last.
Still, no matter how you feel about the “miracle pills,” what you can’t deny is Djokovic’s ability to recover and refocus. His serve held strong when it mattered, and his movement—after the timeout—was right back to elite level. Even Muller, who had his own medical break for a calf issue, couldn’t keep pace once Novak got rolling again.
Now Djokovic moves on to face Britain’s Dan Evans in the second round, having won 40 of his last 42 matches at Wimbledon. With Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner grabbing all the headlines in recent Slams, Djokovic clearly feels this is his best shot to steal back some of the spotlight—and maybe history itself. Love him or question him, Novak’s still right in the mix. And if his stomach holds out, who’s to say number 25 isn’t within reach?
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