Novak Djokovic gives Australian Open injury update after Serb in pain in De Minaur loss
Novak Djokovic struggled with a wrist injury during his United Cup defeat to Alex de Minaur.
Novak Djokovic believes he will be "okay" for the Australian Open after suffering with a wrist injury during his United Cup defeat to Alex de Minaur. It marked his first loss on Australian soil in six years, bringing his impressive 43-match run to an end. For the second day in a row, Djokovic called the physio to court and could be seen wincing in pain as he received treatment on his wrist.
Djokovic struggled with his wrist once again as he faced De Minaur in the first match of Serbia's United Cup quarter-final against Australia. The 36-year-old had already received a medical time out for the same issue when he faced Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday but went on to win in three sets.
The world No. 1 later downplayed the significance of the issue and said he hoped to recover in time to take on De Minaur. But it became clear that the issue hadn't gone away as Djokovic received treatment during two changeovers in the opening set, though he was told he could not have a full medical time out because it wasn't a new injury.
With the Australian Open now just 11 days away, Djokovic is in a race against time to be fully fit for his most successful Grand Slam tournament. But the 10-time champion in Melbourne believes he will be just fine. "I have plenty of time to - plenty, I mean, I think enough time to get myself in the right shape for Australian Open, and that's what matters the most at this point," he said after losing 6-4 6-4.
Although the issue hampered him against the world No. 12, Djokovic wasn't concerned about any impact on the Australian Open. He continued: "I think I'll be okay, to be honest. You know, 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 mean, he was just very solid, as he always is. Congrats to him, to Australian team, and, you know, it is what it is for us. I guess we move on, and for me, with my thoughts in Melbourne."
Djokovic already has experience in playing through some pain en route to lifting the title in Melbourne. Last year he was carrying a hamstring injury and in 2021 he tore an abdominal muscle. Sharing his upcoming plans, the 24-time Major winner added: "Well, just trying to recover, first of all, 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 Australian Open.
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"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."
After spending his last two Australian Opens injured, Djokovic is now focused on arriving in Melbourne at full fitness. "Of course you never know what can happen. I mean, last two out of three years I've been injured just before Australian Open, and managed to win both Australian Opens, '21 and '23," he said.
"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."