Novak Djokovic considers taking a break after Wimbledon injury scare
Novak Djokovic, knocked out of Wimbledon yesterday, is considering a break from tennis to find a long-term solution to his injury woes. The former World No.1, forced to retire from his QF match against Tomas Berdych, remarked that his pain had shot up day by day and that "today was the worst day".
The three-time Wimbledon champion needed treatment on his elbow at the end of the first set and was already dealing with a long-term right shoulder problem. The 30-year-old had received treatment on his right shoulder during his last-16 win over Adrian Mannarino and that only went on to increase against Berdych. Clearly dejected by the injury, the Serb said that he would consider undergoing surgery if needed to fix it for the long term.
āIām just going to talk with specialists, as I have done in the last year or so, try to figure out whatās the best way to treat it and to solve it, to find a long-term solution. itās probably rest is most appropriate. We will see,ā said Djokovic after his first Grand Slam retirement since the 2009 Australian Open quarter-finals.Ā
Ā āItās my elbow. Itās been bothering me for a year and a half. Itās unfortunate I have to finish Wimbledon like this. I started feeling it at the beginning of the tournament. The level of pain was always increasing and today was the worst day.
āI tried what I could do to get it in condition to be able to play. All the treatments couldnāt really help. The serve and forehand were the shots I could feel it most.ā
The 12-time Grand Slam champion was supposed to play his last-16 match against Mannarino on Monday but the match was delayed as Rafael Nadal's match against Gilles Muller went to five sets at Court One and the tournament officials decided to reschedule the Serbās match to the next day despite Centre Court was available for the play.Ā
Although Djokovic managed to beat Mannarino 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 on Tuesday, he didnāt have a rest day for the quarter-finals. He, then, went on to complain about the Wimbledon organisers that they should have allowed his last-16 match to be played on Monday evening instead of Tuesday morning.
āThose kinds of circumstances donāt really help. This is the kind of situation you have to accept and try to make the most out of it,ā Djokovic said.
āI spent about two hours on the treatment table in between the warm-up and the match to make me fit,ā he added.