MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic was taken out of the world on Saturday after suffering what he described as “muscle tears” while the wait exceeded Open champion’s defensive ability. Australia to compete in its fourth game.
The 33-year-old, who won eight times higher at Melbourne Park Arena, slipped through the third set of Friday’s third-round match against Taylor Fritz and disappeared off Rod Laver Arena for handling.
The Serbian, who said he was convinced it was muscle tears on his right side, had to pay more attention to the injury in the third set before going on to win a script for five sets. and pitted against Milos Raonic on Sunday.
The 17-year-old Grand Slam winner was unsure if he would be able to recover from the injury and was missing from Saturday’s official training list at Melbourne Park.
Reports said Djokovic will go through scans Saturday before a decision is made on the title’s defense.
Djokovic’s team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reports.
The Serbian got the most time he could get back with the organizers and his game against Canadian Raonic was listed as the final game Sunday afternoon at Rod Laver Arena.
Australian Open Chief Craig Tiley, however, was confident the Serbian will be able to recover from his injuries and compete on Sunday.
“We’ll see. It’s tough, it’s sad, ”Tiley told Australian broadcaster Channel Nine.
“He will wake up today and find out what it is and go and get the right treatment. As it was, those two sets really surprised me.
“But I’ve seen him play here, this is his court, he’s getting comfort and he’s just picking up his game and he’s so good. ”
Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai; edited by Michael Perry