Media reacts to Djokovic hiatus

When Novak Djokovic announced he would be sitting out the rest of season 2017 to heal a nagging elbow injury, tennis journalists and sports reporters fired up their computers and tackled their keyboards to publish their thoughts.

The following is a selection of what’s been said about the Serb’s decision …

Peter Bodo for espn.com:

Djokovic himself gave a compelling and somewhat out-of-place hint about his motivation near the end of his (injury hiatus) announcement. It’s hard not to think Federer was somewhere in the back of his mind when Djokovic said: “I have time I can dedicate to healing and focusing on certain aspects and elements of the game that I never had time to work on. Now I will have time to perfect them.” Djokovic is clearly thinking about the shape of his comeback, even though he’s just now leaving. Whether he can reinvent himself in the manner of Federer probably will be the leading question at the start of the 2018 season.

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Ed McGrogan for tennis.com:

Assuming his recovery goes smoothly, there’s no reason to think Djokovic won’t be able to resume his game-dominating ways upon his return. He won’t turn 31 until May, and is just 18 months removed from holding all four of tennis’ chalices. Roger Federer, 35, and Nadal, 31, are the owners of this year’s Grand Slam trophies, and both men took extended absences from the tour last year, around this time, to properly rest and recover for the next season. And it’s not as if a slew of players are within striking distance—empirically speaking—of the uppermost tier of tennis, which Djokovic has been a part of since 2011. It should make Andy Murray fans wonder whether if their man ought to consider a five-month break after his own relative struggles.

Retirements in tennis are impossible to comment on with certainty: only the player truly knows how he or she feels, and if their body and mind are able to compete at the highest level. Djokovic feels that he cannot, and for that he must be given the benefit of the doubt.

David Waldstein for the New York Times:

Djokovic said he intended to come back in time for the Australian Open in January, a scheduling precedent established by Federer, the soon-to-be 36-year-old who has won the last two major tournaments he has entered. While Djokovic was striking balls with pain, Federer rested in the second half of 2016 to help recuperate from knee problems, and then won the Australian Open as well as high-profile tournaments in Indian Wells, Calif., and Key Biscayne, Fla. He skipped the clay-court season to rest further before winning on grass in Halle, Germany, and at Wimbledon.

It is a tantalizing model for Djokovic.

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Paul Newman for The Independent:

Perhaps Djokovic will draw inspiration from his coach’s own experiences as a player. World No.1 in February 1996, a disillusioned Agassi dropped to No.141 the following November but was back on top of the pile two years later.

George Bellshaw for metro.co.uk:

One area of concern that lies ahead for Djokovic is whether his attitude to playing the game needs adapting. For so long he’s gone down the route of winning the war of attrition, grinding down his opponents but will that approach still work in his 30s? Whether or not this needs to change in the next six months or not, Djokovic will no doubt have observed Federer’s own subtle adjustments to his game. The Swiss has played on the front foot throughout this season, keeping points short and attempting to dictate the rallies from the off. Can Djokovic execute a similar game plan? I’m not so sure. Against the very best players he may struggle. But expect Djokovic 2.0 to adopt his own changes as he looks to return to the top.