Novak Djokovic resolves one of his big worries as he prepares for ATP Tour comeback

Djokovic will make his return to the ATP Tour at the Indian Wells Masters next week, marking his first regular event since last October's Paris Masters.

Following Indian Wells, he is also set to compete in the Miami Open ATP 1000 tournament, which will immediately follow in Florida. This extended period of competition away from home raises the possibility that the world No. 1 will be separated from his family for some time.

Djokovic's last competitive match was a loss in the Australian Open semi-final against Jannik Sinner last month. He chose to skip the Davis Cup for Serbia in order to spend more time with his wife Jelena and their two young children.

After taking a break from tennis, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was spotted enjoying some time on the ski slopes. Now, he's gearing up for his return to Indian Wells, a tournament he last played in 2019. The presence of his family on this trip suggests a new approach for Djokovic.

His family has joined him on the trip to America, with son Stefan even getting the opportunity to watch soccer superstar Lionel Messi in action for Inter Miami. This family time in Florida precedes Djokovic's preparation for the ATP 1000 event in Indian Wells, which starts on March 3.

“To be honest I do struggle with that more and more as time goes on,” he confessed when asked whether he misses his family when he is away from home.

“Australia is a long trip, probably the longest we have in the entire year. My son is nine and my daughter is six. Every day, every week they change.

“As a person, again, the balance of the private and professional life is the key. Obviously, it’s different for everyone. We are all different individuals. This is a very demanding sport with high travel intensity throughout the year.

“You have to play worldwide, which is beautiful, which allows us to travel the world and play in front of many different people and nations. At the same time, it separates you from the family and from the dear ones.

“When I’m not, how can I stay connected? Obviously, technology allows you to communicate, but it’s different when you are away.”

Djokovic chose to travel to America early after being on the same plane as his long-time rival Rafael Nadal last week.

It has now been revealed that he was accompanied by his family on the trip, as images surfaced of him attending a Major League Soccer match with his son Stefan.

Djokovic owns a luxurious $5 million penthouse in Miami, which his family will likely use as their base for the next few weeks while he competes in Indian Wells and then returns to Miami for the second leg of the ATP Tour’s ‘Sunshine Swing’.

There have been suggestions that Djokovic may not participate in both ATP 1000 events due to their proximity, especially given his previous statements about not wanting to play a hectic schedule in 2024.

However, with his family by his side, Djokovic and his loved ones may be happy to spend the next few weeks in America as the world No 1 seeks to further enhance his already impressive legacy with more title wins.