Djoker aims for fresh start

Melbourne, Jan. 9: Twelve- time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic headlines a list of walking wounded at the Australian Open, with the Serb desperate to get back to winning ways after six months out injured.

The former world number one is making a tilt at a record seventh Melbourne Park crown, but has some serious rust to shake off if he is to make an impression.

Djokovic has been sidelined since Wimbledon in July, with a Tie Break Tens exhibition event on Wednesday and the Kooyong Classic, where he is drawn to play world number five Dominic Thiem, his only chance to test his right elbow injury.

“Finally back in the land down under. I feel ready. Idemo! ( let’s go),” he tweeted on Sunday, posting a video of himself hitting on Rod Laver Arena.

But after pulling out of an Abu Dhabi tournament late last month and admitting “I still feel the pain”, a big question mark hangs over how competitive Djokovic can be.

Having added mercurial former tour player Radek Stepanek to a coaching team spearheaded by Andre Agassi, Djokovic only started hitting tennis balls again in November.

He admits being sidelined has not been easy, and missing the US Open last year, the first Slam he has not played since 2005, was particularly hard.

“It’s been a real rollercoaster ride for me for a year- and- a- half with this issue. I’ve never had surgery in my life, I’ve never had any major injuries that kept me away from the tour for such a long time,” he told Sport360 in Abu Dhabi. — AFP