Australian Open: Novak Djokovic - "Had it not been a Grand Slam tournament, I would have withdrawn"
Novak Djokovic is in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open after a four-set win over Milos Raonic - even though the Serb is anything but 100 percent.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Feb 14, 2021, 07:51 pm
After Novak Djokovic had already thought about a task in the third round against Taylor Fritz according to his own information, the world number one did everything possible to get fit for the game against the Canadian before his round of 16 duel with Milos Raonic. He tried different therapies, spent a lot of time with his physio and also took strong painkillers.
At least against Raonic, Djokovic should win the fight with the injury for the time being. The shorter rallies against the strong-serving Canadian were accommodating to him, said the 33-year-old after the game. A game that he would normally have canceled.
Djokovic takes calculated risk
"If it weren't for a Grand Slam tournament, I would have withdrawn," said Djokovic while still on the court. In the subsequent press conference, the Serb underlined the risk of his appearance even more clearly: "The medical team told me it was a game of chance while I'm on the pitch. I could do a lot more damage, but it could also be going in a good direction. I won't know until I stop taking painkillers. They're kind of hiding what's really going on. "
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It is already clear to Djokovic that he will take a longer break after the Australian Open. The medical departments of the Australian Open and the ATP do not believe that the 33-year-old's season will be jeopardized. However, there is the "small possibility" of being out for a longer period of time.
For the time being, Djokovic, who did not want to comment on the exact diagnosis of his injury, wanted to concentrate fully on the Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne: "I move aggressively and we play Best of Five. These things don't help, but I have to deal with the pain mentally. I have 40 hours. That's great about slams. "
Zverev calls for the world's number one
Djokovic will need these 40 hours urgently to prepare for his quarter-final duel with Alexander Zverev. The German, who also complained of an abdominal injury at the beginning of the tournament, has so far presented himself in outstanding form in Australia and will undoubtedly represent the biggest challenge of the tournament for the Serbian.
"There will definitely be more rallies, but he's also a very good server," said Djokovic, who defeated the native of Hamburg in three close sets at the ATP Cup . Not least because of this, the 17-time Grand Slam winner believes in his possibilities despite the far from ideal starting position - although he needs an improvement in his physical condition: "If I feel ten percent better than today, my chances are good . "
Here is the individual tableau for the men
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