Novak Djokovic acquired a significant increase on Saturday after scan experiences emerged on the hamstring damage he incurred in the course of the Australian Open final month in Melbourne. Because it reportedly stands, the Serb can return to the courtroom in two weeks with the ATP 500 occasion in Doha trying a risk.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic attends a press convention after retiring from his males’s singles semi-final match in opposition to Germany’s Alexander Zverev on day 13 of the Australian Open tennis match in Melbourne(AFP)
Throughout the quarterfinal match in opposition to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic was seen struggling along with his hamstring, forcing him to take a medical timeout, after which he returned with a closely strapped higher left thigh. Regardless of the ache, he battled via 4 units to make the semifinal, however didn’t take the apply courtroom till the morning of his conflict in opposition to Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old retired from the semifinal match after dropping the opening set.
Djokovic confronted fairly some criticism from specialists, who reckoned it wasn’t a real damage, leaving the 24-time Grand Slam winner to share medical proof of his hamstring tear on social media.
On Saturday, trusted Serbian publication Sportal claimed that Djokovic’s medical scan experiences have been relatively optimistic with the damage not being as severe because the one he incurred in the course of the 2023 season. The report added that after returning dwelling to Serbia, he sought each day therapies and coverings, following which he acquired a inexperienced gentle from his medical crew that he might resume apply in a few days.
The event comes as a significant increase for Djokovic amid preliminary experiences claiming that he could possibly be on the sidelines for months, with a return to the French Open a risk. Nevertheless, if the Serb, who pulled out of Serbia’s Davis Cup tie in opposition to Denmark earlier this week, does resume apply subsequent week, he might make a return to motion on the Doha Open, which is able to start on February 17.
Nevertheless, focus will stay on how he builds in the direction of the French Open, with Djokovic but to win a Slam since lifting the US Open in September 2023.
“Usually in my career I used to have my schedule ready six months in advance, but nowadays that’s not the case,” he stated final yr.
“Now it’s more spontaneous. Firstly, I need to physically, emotionally and mentally rest in order to even start thinking what I want to do next, in what way, how much and where.
“I am not chasing ATP Finals, I am not chasing the rankings. As far as I’m concerned, I am done with those tournaments for my career. Whether I will play others this year or in the future, I can’t say right now.
“My main priorities are playing for the national team and Slams. Everything else is less important.”