Novak Djokovic is expected to miss the rest of the summer, including the U.S. Open, because of a lingering elbow injury. A doctor in Djokovic’s native Serbia told the Sportski Zurnal newspaper that the current world No. 4 has a bone bruise from “excessive play” that requires between six weeks and three months of rest.
The U.S. Open begins on August 28, in little more than a month.
Djokovic has struggled with elbow and shoulder problems this entire year, and things reached a low point when he was forced to retire from his Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych.
The Serbian-based doctor, Zdeslav Milinkovic, said that the former world No. 1’s “symptoms are declining.” However, Milinkovic added that surgery still could be avoided with general rehab. Djokovic also visit a doctor in Toronto who indicated that things have since improved. Regardless, the 12-time Grand Slam champion is expected to withdraw shortly from the season’s fourth and final Grand Slam.
With Djokovic out, Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer just about have the top three seeds–in some order–locked up in New York. Stan Wawrinka will be in line to get the No. 4 seed.
After holding all four major titles when he captured the French Open for the first time last spring, Djokovic currently holds none. He lost to Wawrinka in the 2016 U.S. Open final, to Denis Istomin in the Australian Open second round, and to Dominic Thiem in the French Open quarterfinals before his plight at the All-England Club.
Fedal final just about guaranteed
Yes!!
Just to be clear I say Yes because Fedal final very likely not because Djoker is injured. Hope he gets well asap.
To be honest I don’t Djokovic would have been able to beat either of them but this is SAD. I wish Novak a speedy recovery.
I miss him!! Get well Nole…
Novak caused me a heartache many many times in the past..but i’m still going to miss his presence on court that’s for sure!…Wish u all the best in your recovery time Nole!!
P/S…Please take rc with u Nole!..she’s injured her arm too!
Aw…Mira, there’s probably a lot of fans here that hope Novak takes a long time off, lol
rc baby!….Hehehe…i know that sentiment…BUT,if u still can’t figure it out about AM/MA/Farah Diba yet…i’m not like that ‘lots of fans’!…Woooohoooo!!!
Ratcliff: Learning to like your comments.
And I like your nickname. 🙂 It reminds me of sharing a song (now stuck in my head):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWlbKHd6tmE
I not surprised to hear this news. I think taking time off to let this injury heal is the best thing. It seems as though they want to avoid surgery. Novak needs to let his body heal. It sure worked for Rafa and Fed!
Good luck and a speedy recovery to Novak!
I think having a long break to let the body heal is the best option for him. I also think that Murray should do the same. His hip injury won’t go away without time for it to heal.
All the big four are not young anymore, injuries bound to catch up with their bodies. They have to take time away from the sport to recharge their bodies.
It’s official! Novak is taking the entire rest of the season off. Exactly the same as Federer. I think it’s a very smart choice for Novak. He’s too great to not return to glory again one day… I’m not sure how bad Murray’s injury woes are, but I honestly think it would be smart for him to take an extended break as well. He has played just as much as Novak the last couple years, so he’s probably affected by excessive play as well. Anyway, I would love for there to be at least one last period of time where all the Big 4 + Stan are healthy before Fed retires…
*Exactly the same as Federer LAST YEAR, I meant to say.
I’ll never forgive Fedfans the fake story they created about Rafa when he was off the Tour for 7 months (at the end of 2012 & beginning of 2013). They made up a story that he got a silent ban and they have spread that fake story on blogs, social media, forums (and so on) for years.
This was expected…Novak made a hint about it right after his loss at Wimby…he will come back strong and healthy to win more titles I am sure! I wish him all the best!
BTW, I thought I read a while ago that Andy is done for the season and will have hip surgery…I wish him to fully recover before coming back on tour…
Both of them will be missed! Tennis needs them!
Ricky said that the information about Murray was not correct.
Sorry to the Novak fans here especially RC, sad but not really unexpected, shoulder and elbow injuries are tricky buggers ….
Hi Alison. Thanks. I’m okay about it. Hope he gets the health and recovery he needs. Nice to read you here.
Now I’m worried as well about David Goffin. Last week he lost in an early round and it appears by the score that Radu Albot is too much for him. The Goff might need a longer rest too. Tennis Channel is only showing Hamburg this week so I’m not exactly well-informed these days.
Hopefully Murray will be OK though, it would be shame to have two of the top 4 players missing for the final GS of the year, there will be a big hole at the top if so ….
HI RC Yeah, the tennis season is a long one, so many players suffering with one injury or another, they do play alot, i dont know the answer other than a mid season break possibly ?
All good here looking forward to our next camp next weekend, i hope your injury is now better too 🙂
Augusta008 yeah i remember, but i took no notice, it said more about them as people rather than Nadal as a player, and those that didnt say it insinuated ….