Novak Djokovic’s injury scare may be more alarming than first feared after shock defeat

Novak Djokovic has been a master of avoiding serious injury over the course of his career, but he has a cloud hanging over him ahead of this month’s Australian Open.

Djokovic lost 6-4 6-4 to world No 12 De Minaur as Australia took a 1-0 lead in their quarter-final against Serbia in the mixed team event before sealing a 2-0 victory.

Djokovic was below his best and struggled with an ongoing problem with his right wrist, twice requiring treatment from the physio.

The world number one needed a medical time-out for the issue in his previous United Cup match against the Czech Republic’s Jiri Lehecka, which he won in three sets on Tuesday.

The Serbian was treated after holding serve to lead 4-3 in the opening set and again after De Minaur had broken to edge 5-4 up.

Despite Djokovic’s fitness concerns, De Minaur produced an impressive performance to seal one of the biggest wins of his career in just over an hour and a half.

De Minaur’s joy was contrasted by what was clear concern in the Djokovic camp, who graciously shook hands with every member of the Australian team before making his way off the court.

“I think I have enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open, and that’s what matters the most at this point,” said Djokovic in a downbeat post-match press conference.

“I think I’ll be okay, to be honest. It did have quite an impact, you know, particularly on the forehand and serve.

“Again, I don’t want to be spending too much time talking about it and taking away credit, the victory from de Minaur. I guess we move on, and for me, with my thoughts in Melbourne.”

When asked what his plans were ahead of the Australian Open, Djokovic offered up a less than convincing prediction of what lies ahead.

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“Just trying to recover, first of all, you know, with the wrist and everything I have been struggling with the last couple of days, and yeah, just following the routine of recovery and training and building the form for the Australian Open,” he added.

“The process is not strange to me. It’s not unusual. I’ve been in this kind of situation so many times and I know what I need to do along with my team to get myself ready.

“Of course, you never know what can happen. I mean, last two years I’ve been injured just before the Australian Open, and managed to win both Australian Opens and, you know… sorry, last two out of three years, ’21 and ’23.

“So I hope that I will not be injured this time around, you know. That’s what we’re going to work on, to get my body in the right shape, optimal state, so that I can perform at the high level throughout hopefully the entire Australian Open.”

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With less than two weeks to go before the start of the Australian Open, this problem will be a big concern for Djokovic as he has been here before with a similar injury.

Playing best of he won last year’s Australian Open with a tear in his hamstring and while that injury appeared to be managed by the most successful player ever to play in the tournament, an arm injury will not be so easy to negotiate.

This injury occurred in a practice session on Tuesday and if he has damaged a tendon in his arm, the only solution will be a period of rest.

It means that at the very least, Djokovic’s preparation for the Australian Open will be impacted, but he will look to past experience and hope this injury will not derail his title defence.

During his troubled 2022 season – which started with his deportation from Australia and saw him miss a host of big events due to his Covid vaccine status – Djokovic lost to Felix Auger Aliassime at the Laver Cup as he struggled with an arm problem.

The manner of his defeat in that match suggested his end-of-season ambitions would be impacted, but Djokovic managed to win at ATP 500 event in Kazakhstan before reaching the Final of the Paris Masters and turning in a series of flawless displays to win the ATP Finals in Turin.

Any hint that the red-hot tournament favourite may be hampered for the Australian Open will be the rest of the field hope that his reign in Melbourne could come to an end.

Yet you write off this ultimate warrior at your peril.