Djokovic ponders long break ‘for body and mind’ after exit
LONDON: Novak Djokovic admits a long break is on the cards after an elbow injury forced him to retire from his Wimbledon quarter-final against Tomas Berdych. Djokovic’s miserable 12 months hit a fresh low on Wednesday when a right elbow problem curtailed his bid to win Wimbledon for a fourth time.
The 30-year-old Serb was trailing 7-6 (7/2), 2-0 and felt he had no option but to call it quits as the pain, from an injury that has troubled him for more than a year, began to increase.
“There is a possibility that they will propose surgery, but I don’t think that is good,” Djokovic told Serbian media.
“To go be cut in surgery or to poison myself with pills .... none of the solutions is good.
“A logical conclusion is that a kind of a rest and a longer break is a logical solution. Maybe a longer rest is necessary, not only because of the injury but for my mind as well.
“During my entire career I have followed a school schedule, I have never been reprimanded, maybe I will skip the next semester.”
Djokovic, who has also struggled with a shoulder issue, had spoken to medical experts about the elbow problem before Wimbledon and was told surgery was an option.
Asked what he would do to finally resolve the nagging injury, Djokovic had admitted he wouldn’t rule out an operation.
“The specialists that I’ve talked with, they haven’t been really too clear, mentioning also surgery, mentioning different options,” he said.
“Nobody was very clear in what needs to be done. As long as it kind of comes and goes, it’s fine.
“But obviously, adding up, maybe it worked for seven, eight, ten months, but now the next seven months is not working that great.
“Obviously it’s adding up more and more. The more I play, the worse it gets. Yeah, I guess the break is something that I will have to consider right now.”
With the US Open just six weeks away now, Djokovic doesn’t have long to return to full fitness.