Despite injury-off at the US Open: Djokovic wants to break Federer's record
NovakDjokovic's title mission was stopped abruptly on Tuesday night: by a freed-up Stan Wawrinka - and his shoulder.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Sep 02, 2019, 04:09 pm
Novak Djokovic had just gotten the break in the third set, after some forehand, when he trudged on the net and Stan Wawrinka made it clear: That was it. The pain in his left shoulder, which he had treated throughout the tournament, was back after Djokovic had hoped for improvement in the match before. On some days, the pain was more severe on others, the defending champion said, various painkillers and therapies apparently did not work.
Djokovic had been struggling with problems for a few weeks now, he said - in Cincinnati the right elbow was still in the spotlight. After lengthy problems in the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Djokovic finally had an operation on this in early 2018 and made a brilliant comeback from summer with four major victories in the last five attempts.
With Grand Slam title number 17 it will be nothing, at least in New York, for Djokovic calm is announced - even if the situation is of course "frustrating", as he admitted.
Djokovic protects angry audience
The boos that accompanied Djokovic on his way out of the Arthus Ashe Stadium were considered inappropriate by many. Djokovic is a big champ and a good friend, said opponent Wawrinka, "and if he has to give up, it is not best to leave the court like this." Even if Djokovic calmed down and took the audience under protection. "You came to see a complete match."
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He had planned a next appearance in Tokyo at the end of September, Djokovic explained - whether that should be the case, will depend on the recovery. John McEnroe even speculated that Djokovic could already end the season. After the world number one had disregarded his elbow injury for too long in 2016 and finally had to end his season early in 2017, this does not even seem to be a precautionary measure.
One thing is clear: New York's job should only be an obstacle in the 32-year-old's career on the way to his declared goal: to beat the Federer record with 20 Grand Slam titles so far. "It's no secret that I have the desire and the goal to win most of the Grand Slam tournaments and break Roger's record," said Djokovic.