Novak Djokovic to miss rest of 2017 season

Published by Paul Moore

Novak Djokovic will miss the rest of the 2017 season because of injury. Photo: Getty Images
Novak Djokovic has announced that he will miss the rest of the 2017 season to recover from an elbow injury.

Novak Djokovic will miss the rest of the 2017 season because of injury.

The Serb made the announcement during a press conference in Belgrade, saying: “Professionally this is not an easy decision for me, but I’m trying to look at the positive side.”

Djokovic has been struggling with an elbow injury for the past 18 months. He was forced to retire from his Wimbledon quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych, after which he said “I haven’t felt this much pain ever since I’ve had this injury.”

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Djokovic elaborated on the decision in a message posted to his Facebook page: “After a year and a half of carrying the injury of my elbow I have made the decision to not play any competitions or tournaments for the rest of the 2017 season. Unfortunately this is the decision that had to be made at this moment – Wimbledon was probably the toughest tournament for me in terms of feeling the pain.

“I have consulted many doctors and specialists in the last 12-15 months – especially in the last couple of months when I felt the injury was getting worse – and they all agree that I need rest and I need time. Nothing can really help instantly, you have to allow nature to take its course.”

Djokovic has struggled with form and fitness since completing the career Grand Slam at French Open in 2016. The twelve-time Grand Slam winner has seen his ranking slip to No.4, after picking up just two titles (Doha and Eastbourne) since the start of the year.

It wasn’t all bad news, though. During the announcement Djokovic confirmed that he had signed Andre Agassi for the 2018 season.

“I will take this time to heal and do all the suggested methods of rehabilitation. I will take a couple of months without the racquet, and then I hope I can train.

“I am looking forward to building my body and my team – I am happy to share that Andre Agassi is committed to stay with me next year. I’m looking forward to getting back on the practice courts, and having him in the box at the big tournaments.

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“I have never faced this decision before in my life – I have never skipped a big tournament. I was blessed to have success and I am grateful for that. I am also grateful that I kept my body healthy for so many years. So this is a new experience for me – new circumstances – so I am trying to look at it from a brighter side.”

Djokovic’s absence from Flushing Meadows will bring to an end his remarkable run of 51 straight appearances in Grand Slams – seventh on the all-time list.

In a bizarre twist of fate, the announcement was made a year to the day that Roger Federer called time on his 2016 season.

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