Australian Open 2026: How Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and others are trying to avoid jet lag

Tennis stars travel the world more than any other group of athletes due to the international nature of the sport.

With tour-level tournaments being held in 29 countries across five continents, men’s players covered 2.3 million kilometers during the 2024 season, according to ATP data.

Every player knows the importance of getting over jet lag quickly and has their own way of trying to regulate their daily rhythm.

Novak Djokovic, known for fine-tuning his body, tries to “over-hydrate” during his trip, adding lemon, mint and salt to his water.

“When I get to the hotel, I put myself barefoot on natural terrain as quickly as possible, followed by a hot bath with Epsom salts,” the 24-time major champion told Travel + Leisure magazine., external.

“Then first thing in the morning, I try to watch the sunrise to reset my mind.”

Natural herbal tablets, often containing botanical ingredients such as valerian, hops, chamomile and passionflower, are a popular coping strategy, while many players have turned to melatonin as a sleep aid.

However, taking the hormone, which your brain produces in response to darkness and thus helps you sleep, has led to serious repercussions for some high-profile players.

Six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek was banned for one month in 2024 after failing a drug test because the melatonin she took to avoid jet lag was contaminated.

In 2023, Stefanos Tsitsipas, then Greece’s world No. 5, blamed tablets for a sluggish performance in his French Open quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz.