Australian Open: 'I think I'll be okay' - Novak Djokovic dispels injury fears after wrist struggles
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ByOli Gent
Updated 03/01/2024 at 16:33 GMT
Novak Djokovic believes that the wrist injury that has hampered his United Cup campaign with Serbia "will be okay" for his Australian Open title defence, starting on January 14 on discovery+. The world No. 1 needed a medical timeout in his quarter-final defeat to Alex de Minaur, but Djokovic is confident that the defeat will not affect his preparations for Melbourne.
'I'll be OK for Aus Open' - Djokovic gives update on injured wrist following de Minaur defeat
Novak Djokovic has quelled any fears that he is an injury doubt for the Australian Open after a niggling wrist injury hampered the world no. 1 in his United Cup quarter-final defeat to Alex de Minaur.
Djokovic, who fell 6-4 6-4 to the home favourite in the opening rubber of the tie, said that he thinks the injury “will be okay”, but that it had “quite an impact” on his performance in Perth.
The Serb will start his title defence in Melbourne live on discovery+ on Sunday, January 14.
“I think I'll be okay, to be honest,” Djokovic said post-match.
“But, you know, it did have quite an impact, you know, particularly in the forehand and serve. But again, I don't want to be spending too much time talking about it and taking away credit for the victory from De Minaur. I mean, he was just very solid, as he always is, and congrats to him [and] to the 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, the reigning Australian Open, French Open, and US Open champion, asserted that the defeat to De Minaur would not have any impact on his preparations for the first Grand Slam of the year, which the 36-year-old has won a record 10 times.
“No, [it won’t have] not much [of an impact], to be honest," he said.
“I knew that I'm probably not going to be at my 100% physically, emotionally, mentally, game-wise, in the opening week of the season. Neither did I expect that. Neither did I want that, to be honest. It's all part of the build-up for the Australian Open, you know, so that's where I want to perform at my best. And so again, you know, it's never nice to lose a match, of course, but, you know, it's not really going to stay with me much."
Djokovic was far from his best against a spirited De Minaur, who was spurred on by an atmospheric home crowd on the western Australian coast.
The world No. 12 De Minaur won 97% (33/34) of his first serve points, while Djokovic did not have a single break point throughout the two sets.
“He was very solid from the beginning. He just played a great match [and] deserved to win. Yeah, I was not on my level, but, you know, it was just one of these days where you didn't feel your best on the court, [and] your opponent played very well. That's all I can say. I have, I think, enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open and that's what matters the most at this point.”
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