Twelve-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic won’t play again in 2017 in view of elbow damage. Previous world number one Djokovic, 30, resigned harmed amid his Wimbledon quarter-last match against Tomas Berdych on 12 July.
He guaranteed to have been experiencing an elbow issue for year and a half. “Professionally this is not an easy decision for me, but I’m trying to look at the positive side,” said the Serb.
In July, Djokovic won the Aegon International in Eastbourne – his 68th vocation title, yet his first since January.
He endured a stun crush by world number 117 Denis Istomin at January’s Australian Open, where he was shielding champion, and after that lost his French Open crown when he was beaten by Dominic Thiem in the quarter-finals in June.
Djokovic said he would invest the energy developing his wellness and quality, and in addition chipping away at zones of his diversion he felt should have been moved forward. “I want to play professional tennis for many years to come,” he added.
“All the doctors I’ve consulted, and all the specialists I have visited, in Serbia and all over the world, have agreed that this injury requires rest,” Djokovic said.
You get the feeling that, after 51 straight Grand Slam competitions over a 12-and-a-half-year time frame, his body has basically said ‘that’s the last straw’.
Indeed, even his well known flexibility and resistance has been missing generally, recommending burnout after his uncommon accomplishment of holding every one of the four Grand Slam singles title in the meantime a year ago.
A break from the rigors and persistence of the amusement should help in such manner, as well.
Fortunately he needn’t bother with surgery, and he has made his expectations clear by joining Andre Agassi for 2018, and announcing that he would like to play for an additional five years or more.
Precisely a year back to the day, Roger Federer called time on his 2016 season on account of a knee issue. On the off chance that Djokovic’s arrival goes half and in addition Federer’s – the Swiss has won the Australian Open and Wimbledon this year – it will unquestionably have been the correct choice.
“A prolonged break from the sport is inevitable. I’ll do whatever it takes to recover.
“My elbow is hurt due to excessive playing, and it troubles me constantly when serving, and now when playing forehand as well.
“My body has its limits, and I have to respect that and be grateful for all I have achieved so far.
“At the beginning of my career I was facing health issues, but over the years, and with a lot of patience and dedication, I found a solution.
“That’s the approach I take to this situation, and I firmly believe I will come back stronger.”
