Novak Djokovic praises Serena Williams’ comeback drive in latest rehab session

Novak Djokovic has publicly backed Serena Williams’ latest comeback push after she wore his branded knee sleeve during a rehab session on Wednesday, 16 July 2025.

Williams posted photos from her indoor conditioning routine at her medical coach’s facility, showing the 23-time Grand Slam champion wearing a Novak Djokovic-branded knee sleeve made by Incrediwear. The sleeve features a stylized “D” logo matching Djokovic’s personal brand, part of a therapeutic collection he endorses.

What happened?

Serena Williams shared the images on her Instagram account, revealing she suffered a knee injury during her first-round Wimbledon loss to Maya Joints on 1 July 2025. In the photos, she performs squats while leaning on a medicine ball, with the Djokovic-branded sleeve clearly visible on her left knee.

The sleeve uses Incrediwear’s next-gen technology aimed at accelerating recovery at the cellular level. Williams confirmed she’s targeting a return for the hard-court swing, with the National Bank Open in Toronto next on the calendar.

Why it matters for Novak Djokovic

Djokovic, who won his 24th major at the 2024 US Open, called Williams’ return “inspirational” during his Wimbledon press conference on 27 June 2025. “What she’s doing is inspirational, and it’s epic,” he said. “That’s what I told her. I always admired her career.”

The pair are tied as the most decorated singles champions among active players, with Djokovic holding 24 Slams and Williams 23. Both have spent time chasing Federer and Nadal’s 20-22 major hauls before the Serb overtook them in 2023.

What comes next?

Williams is expected to play the Toronto Open starting 4 August 2025, using the Djokovic-branded sleeve as part of her rehab kit. Djokovic, meanwhile, is scheduled to defend his title at the US Open, which begins 25 August 2025.

Incrediwear confirmed the Djokovic collection launched in May 2025 and is available online and at select retailers. The brand says the sleeves combine compression with semiconductor fabric to boost blood flow and cut recovery time.