Djokovic will miss rest of year to cure elbow pain

NOVAK DJOKOVIC has ruled himself out of tennis for the rest of the year. The Serbian former world No 1 has been struggling with an elbow injury for several weeks and had already declared his intention to sit out the US Open, but that break from tennis will now stretch beyond the autumn. A return at the 2018 Australian Open is the target for the world No 4. ‘All the doctors I’ve consulted, and all the specialists I have visited, in Serbia and all over the world, have agreed that this injury requires rest,’ Djokovic said. ‘A prolonged break from the sport is inevitable. I’ll do whatever it takes to recover. I will use the upcoming period to strengthen my body and also to improve certain tennis elements that I have not been able to work on. ‘Five months may seem long but I’m sure they will pass quickly because there is so much I want to do. ‘My wife Jelena and I are expecting our second child, and we are preparing to welcome a new family member. These are things that fill me with greatest happiness and delight. I’m confident I will be ready for start of the new season.’