Tennis News: Novak Djokovic and Jennifer Capriati

Rafael Nadal is not having the best of times with his health over the last two years. He missed the rest of 2023 after injuring his hip in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open. That is beginning to look like the last time Nadal will ever play the first major of the year. He missed the 2024 event after hurting his hip again at the Brisbane International.

This week, Nadal was forced to withdraw from the first Masters 1000 of 2024, Indian Wells, with a potential shoulder issue. By the end of the Netflix Slam on Sunday, the Spanish great could get nothing behind his serve. The hope is that Nadal can make it back for clay court season in April.

In a press conference prior to Indian Wells beginning, Novak Djokovic was asked about Nadal's withdrawal from the event. The Serb answered by saying, "It's sad for the tournament that Rafa had to withdraw and also for him...I know he came in early because he really wanted to adjust to the time zone, get as much practice as possible, get himself ready to play, that's why he came in early. He gave his best but it wasn't to be."

Novak Djokovic discusses Rafael Nadal and Jennifer Capriati claps back at Lindsey Davenport

Sadly, that has been the case with Nadal for most of 2024. One must assume that 2024 will definitely be his final year on the ATP tour. Let's just hope he is healthy enough to participate in the French Open.

Another player reacting to something another player said or did is Jennifer Capriati. She has taken issues with some words that former WTA No. 1 and current tennis commentator Lindsey Davenport said during a recent match. According to a recent social media post by Capriati, Davenport had compared Capriati's father, Stefano, with the fathers of Mary Pierce and Jelena Dokic. Both Dokic and Pierce's fathers have been accused of physical abuse, but Capriati's father has not.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), Capriati wrote, "I grieve my father’s passing to this day, and to hear his memory and character be assassinated and compared to Pierces, Dokics father is outrageously false, and defamatory." And then directing the next comments directly at Davenport, "I've heard this several times now, and it’s shockingly hurtful and false."

That sounds as if Davenport should issue Capriati an apology. However, that all depends on if Davenport wants to embarrass herself even further.

Read more from Lob and Smash