Tennis: “I have enough time to recover properly for the Australian Open,” explains Djokovic

World No.1 Novak Djokovic, eliminated with Serbia from the United Cup on Wednesday in Perth (Australia), played diminished due to pain in his right wrist but was not worried ahead of the Australian Open .

Beaten by the Australian Alex de Minaur, 12th in the ATP in the quarter-finals of this mixed team tournament (6-4, 6-4), Djokovic called on the trainer twice during the match. Enough to cause concern among his fans, as the Australian Major begins in less than two weeks (January 14 - January 28).

“I think I have enough time to recover properly for the Australian Open, and that's what matters most now,” he nevertheless reassured after his defeat, his first in Australia since January 22, 2018 and his failure in the round of 16 of the Melbourne International against the Korean Hyeon Chung.

His wrist pain had already forced the 36-year-old Serbian to give up the mixed doubles against the Czech Republic the day before, during the last match of the group stage.

During his meeting against De Minaur, Djokovic found himself at the heart of an imbroglio with the tournament doctor, not having the right, according to the regulations, to call on him since he had already requested treatment the day before for the same reason.

“So that means if it gets worse the next day, you don't treat it because it already showed up yesterday? I said it got better before the match, and when I started playing, but the more I play, the worse it gets,” he said of his discussion with the doctor. .

Winner of 24 Majors, DJokovic has won the Australian Open ten times, the Grand Slam tournament which is most successful for him.