Djoko ‘happy’ with winning start
NOVAK Djokovic made a resounding return yesterday after six months out with an elbow injury, declaring he felt “great” after beating world No5 Dominic Thiem 6-1, 6-4 at the Kooyong Classic.
The Serbian 12-time Grand Slam winner was in good form, and full of optimism, after his first competitive outing since losing a Wimbledon quarterfinal to Tomas Berdych last July.
“I feel great, I was eager to get onto the court,” he said after playing with a flesh-coloured sleeve on his right arm. “I had a great opponent, it was a test for me to see where I am, how the work we did pays off on court. It worked pretty well.”
The former world No1, who will be chasing a record seventh Australian Open crown when the tournament starts on Monday, had pulled out of a warm-up Abu Dhabi tournament, raising concerns over whether he would be fit enough to play at Melbourne Park.
“There was a doubt, especially after I pulled out of the first week of the year,” he admitted.
“I personally didn’t know what’s going to happen. We did some treatment and obviously gave it a lot of thought. Luckily for me I’m here, and so I’m hoping in the next four, five days everything will go well and I’ll be ready for the Open.”
Also with injury worries, world No1 Rafael Nadal lost his first match of the year 6-4, 7-5 to Richard Gasquet at Kooyong on Tuesday, but said he was happy after his troublesome knee held up “fine”.
Nadal’s knee injury hampered the end of his 2017 season and forced him to skip last week’s Brisbane International, but he was able to give it a workout at the non-tour event in Melbourne.
Though he lost in straight sets, the Spaniard said he would keep working hard until the start of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.
Also coming back from injuries are 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka (knee), and big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic (calf and wrist).
Star power dimmed
At least they remain in contention, unlike Scot Andy Murray, who faces a long layoff after hip surgery, and Japanese star Kei Nishikori (wrist), who both pulled out last week, depriving the tournament of some serious star power.
The mighty Serena Williams, a 23time Grand Slam champion, has also decided against rushing into a comeback after giving birth to her first child in September.
One of those who is fully fit, at 36, is defending champion Roger Federer, who says the injuries and pullouts are no surprise.
“A lot of the guys are just touching 30-plus, you know. Back in the day, at 30, a lot of guys were retiring – Edberg, Sampras,” he said at the season-ending World Tour Finals in London.
“When somebody is injured at 31, it’s like: ‘Oh my God, how is this possible?’ Actually, it’s a normal thing.”
On the women’s side, world No3 Garbine Muguruza, US Open champion Sloane Stephens and upcoming French star Caroline Garcia have all had injury-hit preparations.
Britain’s Johanna Konta, a semifinalist in Melbourne two years ago, ended her Brisbane International campaign early last week with a right hip injury.
“Hips take a massive beating,” admitted Konta, pointing to the game becoming more physical, with tournaments week in and week out.
“But so do knees, so do shoulders, so do ankles, wrists. Take your pick. Back, lower back. And everything in between.”
The British world No9, who made the Melbourne Park semis in 2016 and the quarters last year, was bundled out of the Sydney International in the first round by Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 7-5 on Tuesday.