Novak Djokovic to ‘take some time off to heal’ as he reveals abdominal ‘damage is bigger’

Novak Djokovic is set for some time on the sidelines as his abdominal injury worsened after he opted to play on at the Australian Open.
The world No 1 picked up the injury during his third-round win over Taylor Fritz, but battled through four more matches to win a ninth title at Melbourne Park on Sunday with Daniil Medvedev dispatched in the final.
Comment: We are entering into a new era in tennis…. where Novak Djokovic will be crowned the greatest
His coach Goran Ivanisevic admitted during the post-match press conferences that his team were so concerned about the injury that after every match they were preparing to fly out.
The Serbian pulled through, but he confirmed that he now needs to take a break.
“I just came actually came from another MRI that I’ve done this morning and the damage is bigger than what it was when it happened, when I did the first MRI after the third round,” Djokovic said.
“It’s not too bad, judging by what the doctors said, but I will have to take some time off to heal.
“The tear is bigger. It’s 2.5cm … it started at 1.7[cm].”
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
They heard that back in Belgrade 🗣#AusOpen | #AO2021 | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/vxHtg8l9MF
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 21, 2021
Some sections of the media questioned the severity of Djokovic’s injury, but Ivanisevic criticised the “unfairness”.
“There is somebody upstairs who see all this unfairness with a lot of media and people they doing to him,” the former Wimbledon champion said.
“He is going through lot of, you know, especially after last year, US Open, then pretty poor final of Roland Garros.
“Then this injury happen out of nowhere. To be honest, I can’t believe that I’m sitting here today talking to you as a member of the team of the guy who won number nine Australian Open.
“Even with that injury, [the media] questioned the injury. You know, he took MRI after Fritz match.
“The doctor said what he has. They gave him the choices. Some people, they can deal with the pain. Some people, they cannot deal with the pain.
“It’s like that. Somebody can take more pain; somebody can take less pain.”
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
News
John McEnroe and Tim Henman in feisty exchange over Wimbledon’s Russia ban
Former world No 1 John McEnroe challenged…
-
French Open
Battling Emma Raducanu finds words to sum up her first French Open win
Emma Raducanu narrowly avoided a taste of her own medicine after coming from a set down.
-
French Open
Menacing Novak Djokovic sends out powerful warning at French Open
Djokovic beat Japan’s Nishioka 6-3 6-1 6-0 in a one-sided first night match of the tournament.
-
French Open
Rafael Nadal claims 299th Grand Slam match win at Roland Garros
Rafael Nadal dominated his French Open first round match against Jordan Thompson.
-
Tennis News
John McEnroe reveals how Iga Swiatek and Serena Williams are alike
Will Iga Swiatek become the sixth women to claim ten or more Grand Slams in the open era?
-
Wimbledon
Naomi Osaka considers skipping pointless Wimbledon
The former world number one says she is ‘leaning more towards not playing’.
-
French Open
French Open: Iga Swiatek extends streak to 29, Naomi Osaka bows out
World No 1 Iga Swiatek is looking forward to some sightseeing after dispatching Lesia Tsurenko in short order.
-
French Open
Goran Ivanisevic insists Novak Djokovic isn’t Roland Garros favourite
Goran Ivanisevic says as long as Rafael Nadal is in the French Open field there can be no other favourite.
-
French Open
French Open: Dominic Thiem feels ‘pretty far away from a win’ after exit
The former world number three, a finalist at Roland Garros in 2018 and 2019, bowed out in straight sets.
-
French Open
Carlos Alcaraz proves French Open title credentials with dominant first-round victory
Carlos Alcaraz powers into the second round at Roland Garros.