Australian Open 2023 LIVE – Is Novak Djokovic injured?: Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has suffered an injury scare ahead of his much awaited Australian Open return. The World No.5 has reportedly suffered a hamstring injury during his practice match against Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday. He cut short the practice session because of the issue, five days before the Grand Slam event. Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates with InsideSport.IN
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Australian Open 2023: Is Novak Djokovic injured? cuts Australian Open practice short over hamstring issue: Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates
The Serbian superstar is back in Melbourne after his deportation last year. His practice session on Wednesday was his first appearance at the Rod Laver Arena since Australian Open 2020. But his return was cut short as he required treatment, after losing the first set against Medvedev. The session at Melbourne Park was supposed to last 75 minutes. But it was instead curtailed after just over half an hour as a precaution, the ABC and 9News Melbourne reported.
Australian Open 2023: Is Novak Djokovic injured? cuts Australian Open practice short over hamstring issue: Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates
“It’s the hamstring that I had problems with in Adelaide last week. I just felt it pulling and I didn’t want to risk anything worse,” Djokovic said, according to 9News. “I played a set and apologised to him (Medvedev) and he was understanding. I just want to avoid any bigger scares before the Australian Open,” he added.
Djokovic’s return to Australia is one of the biggest talking points ahead of this year’s Australian Open. Fans in Australia are eager to see the Serbian in action, who is the most successful player in the history of the tournament.
Let the games begin 🙌 Here’s to the AO Moments ahead. @DjokerNole • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/r8n7xWEBf3
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 11, 2023
Djokovic’ Build-up to the Australian Open 2023
- Djokovic is one of the hot contenders for the Australian Open title.
- Having already won nine titles in the Grand Slam event, he is eyeing his 10th title.
- He has raised the hopes further by clinching his career’s 92nd title at the Adelaide International last week.
- The World No.5 defeated Sebastian Korda in a tough battle that went into three sets. He managed to pull off a 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 victory in the summit clash of the ATP 250 tournament.
- This was his fourth title out of the last five tournaments in which he featured. He won the Tel Aviv Open, Astana Open and ended 2022 with ATP World Tour final victory. The Serbian also finished as runner up at the Paris Masters.
- Djokovic will be the fourth seed in the Australian Open this year.
- He is eyeing his 22nd Grand Slam title and if he wins the title at Melbourne Park, he will equal Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 titles.
🏆👍@AdelaideTennis | #AdelaideTennis pic.twitter.com/AFL6QYxeeb
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 8, 2023
Ahead of the tournament, the 35-year old is set to play another practice game against Australian Nick Kyrgios on Friday. It will be a re-run of last year’s Wimbledon final. The match will be played in front of a full house at Rod Laver Arena. The extent of Djokovic’s injury will be known during this practice game.
Australian Open has already witnessed lot of withdrawals so far. World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz has pulled out as he is yet to recover from the abdominal injury he sustained at the Paris Masters in November. Venus WIlliams too had to pull out. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu and Women’s World No.1 are fighting to get fit. The latter is recovering from a shoulder injury.
Australian Open 2023: Is Novak Djokovic injured? cuts Australian Open practice short over hamstring issue: Follow AO2023 LIVE Updates
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