DJOK CROCKED TOO
NOVAK DJOKOVIC admits he and Andy Murray could be paying the price for the intense demands of being at the top.
The Serb (left) was forced to retire in his quarter-final, at 7-6 and 2-0 down to Czech Tomas Berdych, due to an elbow injury.
He faces six months out of action, ruling him out the US Open and probably the ATP Finals at the O2 in November.
His exit followed Murray’s, and Djokovic said: “We both had a very long, very tough year, a lot of matches, a
lot of emotions, a lot of things in play. Our bodies have taken a lot physically.”
A year ago, Djokovic held all four grand slams but, with fellow crock Murray, faces an uncertain future.
Revealing he had carried the injury for around 18 months, the three-times Wimbledon champ added: “This is the body giving me a signal I need to do something else if I want to carry on playing.
“Now maybe I will miss half a year. As an athlete, one way or another, at a certain stage of your career, you’re going to experience these kind of things. Injuries are part of this sport, unfortunately. Professional tennis is getting very physical in the last couple of years.
“It’s not easy to play at the highest level throughout the entire season, then be able to do that over and over again every season, and then stay healthy.
“At the end of the day, we’re all humans.”
Djokovic revealed he had been resisting surgery. “I don’t believe in operations,” he said.
“They suggested I have one, but I have a good reaction to anti-inflammatory medication and I am not happy having someone cut me open.”