Djokovic delivers message of hope to old rival Murray
● Serb has suffered his own injury woes and knows just how Scot is feeling as he battles for fitness
Novak Djokovic has spoken to Andy Murray to wish him well in his ongoing battle to return to fitness. Murray, who had hip surgery in January, has not played a competitive match since Wimbledon last year but hopes to return in time for this year’s tournament at SW19.
Djokovic recently had an operation on his elbow in an attempt to cure a problem which has troubled him for the past two years, and is now through to the third round of the French Open without losing a set.
The Serbian, who has slipped out of the world’s top 20 for the first time since he was a teenager due to his spell out injured, knows just how two-time Wimbledon champion Murray is feeling.
“We spoke recently because we are part of the player council, so we had a meeting and he was on the conference call,” said Djokovic.
“I can only imagine how difficult it is for him, as well, to deal with the circumstances of injury.
“You know, that’s something that I can relate to. I mean, I have had quite a similar situation, although his injury takes more time, obviously.
“Hopefully we can see him playing on grass, because that’s where, I guess, he wants to play.”
Djokovic set up a thirdround meeting with 13th seed Roberto Bautista Agut after a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 victory over another Spaniard, Jaume Munar.
Despite all of Djokovic’s success over the years – the 12 major championships, the career Grand Slam, the time ranked No 1 – the 31-year-old still finds himself searching for selfconfidence these days after his injury. Both of Djokovic’s matches in Paris so far have been against qualifiers and neither win was particularly impressive. He was tested by 21-year-old Munar despite winning in straight sets .“at the moment, I’m not playing at the level I wish to, but at the same time, I understand that it is the process that obviously takes time,” said Djokovic, whose seeding of No 20 is his lowest at a slam in 12 years. “And I’m trying to not give up.”
Djokovic arrived at Roland Garros with a 10-7 record this season. He showed signs of a resurgence by getting to the Italian Open semi-finals on red clay before losing to ten-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal.
“Best practice that you can have is a match. I haven’t had too many matches, and I really never thought that I’m going to be challenged in that way, mentally – that I need matches in order to get confidence. But obviously I’m learning something new, and, yeah, that’s the case,” said Djokovic, who hasn’t won a grand slam title since claiming his fourth in a row at the 2016 French Open.
“At times, I do lose maybe a comfort level on the court and confidence, and that’s something that I’m still building gradually, obviously,” he continued.
“The more matches I play, the better it is. The more I win, of course, the better it is. Hopefully that can keep going.”