Alarming injury worry for Novak Djokovic as he prepares to defend Australian Open crown

Kevin Palmer
Novak Djokovic was victorious for Serbia
Novak Djokovic was victorious for Serbia

Novak Djokovic admitted he was in pain during his United Cup win over Jiri Lehecka, sparking fears he may not be at his best to defend the Australian Open title later this month.

Djokovic won his second match of the team competition as he sealed a 6-1 6-7 (7-3) 6-1 over an impressive Lehecka, with a wrist problem affecting the world No 1 during the match.

The Serbian suffered pain in his wrist during practice on Tuesday, but he was given the all-clear to play and appeared to be in good shape as he stormed through the opening set.

Yet the treatment he received prior to taking to the court appeared to lose it’s impact in the second set as Lehecka threatened to cause an upset.

Djokovic won the third set to set up a path for Serbia to set up a tie against hosts Australia in the United Cup, but he conceded his wrist problem was a concer.

“It happened in the warmup today before the match,” Djokovic said on his wrist injury. “I basically got constant treatment before the match, during the match, after the match, trying to address the issue that I’m facing today in the best possible way.

“It’s not the first time that I have faced these kind of circumstances at such a high level of professional tennis.

“I know professional sport in general, these things happen. I think it’s not a major concern, because I still managed to finish the match and managed to play well, even though I maybe wasn’t feeling 100 per cent, but still, it allowed me to finish the match.

“Hopefully I’ll have enough time to recover for tomorrow’s tie against Australia.”

Olga Danilovic and Hamad Medjedovic needed to win just against Czechs Miriam Kolodziejova and Petr Nouza in the mixed doubles to advance to the last eight and after losing the opener, they rallied to earn a dramatic 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 win.

“It was quite tight, I think, for them on the court, but also us sitting and watching,” said Djokovic of the mixed doubles. “Everybody was very nervous obviously knowing that we needed a set against players who didn’t have anything to lose.

“Both of them, I don’t think they expected to play, the two players on the Czech side that they faced today. They are both specialists in doubles and they were playing really, really well.

“I’m proud of the two of them for raising the level and making it happen for Serbia. So we are through. That’s what matters.”

Djokovic’s participation in the match against Australia will be closely monitored as he will not want to take too many risks ahead of his next Grand Slam assignment in Melbourne.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion is used to playing with pain and famously won the Australian Open last year after damaging his hamstring.

He wore heavy bandaging during some matches in Melbourne as he won the title for the 10th time, but he will not want to risk his efforts to win another major by risking further damage to his wrist by playing another United Cup match.

If Djokovic takes to the court against Australia’s Alex De Minaur and comes through unscathed, this injury alarm will be halted at first base.

Yet this highly experienced champion will have a make a big decision that could impact his first half of 2024 if he is struggling with his wrist problem when he stages a fitness test ahead of the tie against Australia.

Wednesday 3rd January Schedule

A. de Minaur (AUS) vs N. Djokovic (SRB)
A. Tomljanovic (AUS) vs O. Danilovic (SRB)
S. Hunter (AUS) / M. Ebden (AUS) vs O. Danilovic (SRB) / N. Djokovic (SRB)

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