By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Wednesday, January 3, 2024
Timeless champion Novak Djokovic is on wrist watch forward of his Australian Open title protection.
Enjoying with a wore wrist he stated hampered his serve and forehand, world No. 1 Djokovic suffered a shock 6-4, 6-4 defeat to Alex De Minaur on the United Cup in Perth.
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The ten-time Australian Open champion stated afterward he feels he will probably be okay for launch of his AO title protection on January 14th.
“I feel I will be okay, to be trustworthy,” Djokovic informed the media in Perth. You realize, it did have fairly an affect, you recognize, notably on the forehand and serve.
“Once more, I do not need to be spending an excessive amount of time speaking about it and taking away credit score, the victory from de Minaur. I imply, he was simply very stable, as he at all times is.
“Congrats to him, to Australian workforce, and, you recognize, it’s what it’s for us. I assume we transfer on, and for me, with my ideas in Melbourne.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who took remedy for his wrist problem in the course of the United Cup, noticed his streak of 42 consecutive victories on Australian soil snapped by the Aussie No. 1.
It was Djokovic’s first defeat down beneath since Hyeon Chung swept him within the 2018 AO spherical of 16.
Regardless of the defeat and cranky wrist, Djokovic stated he is assured he’ll be able to put up and play in Melbourne.
Why?
As a result of the 36-year-old Serbian celebrity has overcome in harm to win current AO championships.
“Simply making an attempt to get well, initially, with the wrist and every little thing I’ve been combating the final couple of days, and simply following the routine of restoration and coaching and constructing the shape for Australian Open,” Djokovic stated. “The method just isn’t unusual to me. It is common.
“I have been in this sort of state of affairs so many instances and I do know what I must do together with my workforce to get myself prepared. After all you by no means know what can occur. Final two years I have been injured simply earlier than Australian Open, and managed to win each Australian Opens… sorry, final two out of three years, ’21 and ’23.
“So I hope that I can’t be injured this time round, you recognize. That is what we will work on, to get my physique in the correct form, optimum state, in order that I can carry out on the excessive degree all through hopefully the complete Australian Open.”
Photograph credit score: Paul Kane/Getty