WHERE NOW FOR NOVAK?

Elbow agony forces Djokovic to quit and he admits: I may need time out

Novak Djokovi c shanked a regulation forehand, shook his head, tucked his racket under his arm and trudged to the net. Thus ended his Wimbledon, as the pain from a right elbow injury that has been troubling him for 18 months became too much to bear.

The 30-year-old Serb was trailing Tomas Berdych 7-6, 2-0 in their quarter-final when he retired, prompting a smattering of boos from a few cruel souls on court No 1. He admitted that he must seek a long-term solution to the problem, and may have to take some time off from the tour.

‘it’s the elbow that keeps bothering me for over a year-and-a-half,’ said Djokovic.

‘it’s unfortunate that i had to finish Wimbledon this way. But i tried. i tried what i could do from yesterday to get in the condition where i’m able to play.

‘i was able for 30 minutes to play with some pain that was bearable. The serve and forehand were the shots where i could feel it the most. i spent about two, twoand-a-half hours today on the table in between the warm-up and the match, trying to do everything i possibly could to make me fit. But it wasn’t to be.’

The world No 2 withdrew from the Miami open in March citing this elbow issue, but had looked in imperious form here, reaching the last eight without dropping a set.

Djokovic was not helped by the fact that this was his second match in two days, after his fourth round against adrian Mannarino was held over from Monday night, rather than being finished under the centre court roof.

Wimbledon put this decision down to security concerns, but Djokovic was critical on Tuesday and said yesterday that the scheduling hampered his recovery. ‘The intensity and the level of pain was not decreasing. it was only increasing as the days went by. i started feeling it more or less at the beginning of the tournament,’ he said. ‘Unfortunately today was the worst day. Probably the fact that i played yesterday, days adding up, it wasn’t helping at all.’

after looking close to his usual self for much of the first set, Djokovic began shaking out his right arm and called for the trainer during the tiebreak. He had treatment but looked far worse in the second set, rolling in first serves at 92mph. ‘For any athlete it is hard to swallow when you have to retire, especially when you’re playing well. i was playing really well, probably the best tennis i’ve played in the last 10 months or so. i haven’t dropped any set in Eastbourne or coming into the quarterfinals. i felt really good on the court.’

Djokovic added that he had received contradictory medical advice on how to deal with the injury. asked whether in the last year he had considered taking a break, he replied: ‘To be honest, i was. The specialists that i’ve talked with, they haven’t been too clear, mentioning surgery, mentioning different options.

‘as long as it kind of comes and goes, it’s fine. But it worked for seven, eight, 10 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.’ Djokovic added in Serbian that he wants to avoid surgery if possible.

and with andy Murray also looking far from fully fit in his loss, Djokovic conceded that the pair’s exertions last year may have taken their toll. ‘We both had a very long, very tough year, a lot of matches, a lot of emotions. our bodies have taken a lot physically,’ he said.

as for Berdych, this was his first victory in his last 13 matches against Djokovic. The 31-year- old czech will play Roger Federer tomorrow for a place in the final. on facing the Swiss master, Berdych said: ‘i think he’s the greatest of them all. it’s a great challenge to actually have the opportunity to play him.’