Novak Djokovic’s long-awaited return to Melbourne Park may very nicely be over earlier than it is even begun.
The nine-time Australian Open winner exited his Wednesday afternoon apply match in opposition to Daniil Medvedev early after looking for remedy on his left leg.
The session was meant to final for 75 minutes, however Djokovic bowed out after simply 36 minutes.
Djokovic broke the Russian former world No.1 within the opening recreation however, when main 3-2, acquired remedy, with a member of his crew finishing some knee extensions.
Knee extensions can be utilized to launch the hamstring.
NCA Newswire experiences that docs assessed his knee at three consecutive adjustments of finish and the star wasn’t “shifting very nicely”.
Djokovic pushed by means of hamstring tightness to assert final week’s Adelaide Worldwide 1 and was a agency favourite for a 10th Melbourne Park title.
He tweaked his left hamstring within the semi-final in South Australia when additionally taking part in Medvedev and required a medical time-out, however recovered to win that recreation, then the ultimate.
Djokovic had reassured onlookers about his type in a post-match interview.
“Fortunately it was nothing too critical,” he mentioned.
“If it was I would not be capable of proceed. So, I simply tried with some medical timeout, some inflammatories and form of settled in… The longer the match went the extra my hamstring was hotter, I assume, and bothering me much less.”
Wednesday’s apply match with Medvedev at Rod Laver Area was the primary time Djokovic had performed in entrance of the Melbourne public since final 12 months’s deportation saga.
Spanish veteran Pablo Andújar took Djokovic’s place as Medvedev remained on courtroom.
The damage scare casts doubt over Djokovic’s skill to play in one other exhibition match in opposition to Aussie Nick Kyrgios on Friday evening.
The highly-anticipated contest is because of happen on Middle Courtroom at Rod Laver Area, with tickets having bought out in simply 58 minutes.
– with AAP
