Australian Open 2021: “Worrying times for Novak” – Mats Wilander says Djokovic’s injury will give other players ‘hope’

Australian Open 2021: “Worrying times for Novak” – Mats Wilander says Djokovic’s injury will give other players ‘hope’
Novak Djokovic

Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic suffered an abdominal injury during his five-set win over America’s Taylor Fritz and according to former world no. 1 Mats Wilander, Djokovic not being in the best of shape would give other players hope to go on and win the Australian Open 2021 title.

Djokovic himself had expressed worry that he might not be able to continue playing with the injury after the match. “I honestly don’t know how I won this match. I’m very proud, at the same time sad and worried, because it’s definitely something serious happening with my injury,” he had said.

Djokovic is scheduled to face Milos Raonic tomorrow and it remains to be seen if he will back fit and ready to face the Canadian.

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‘It’s very worrying’ – Mats Wilander

Mats Wilander spoke to Eurosport about Djokovic’s injury and said, “It wasn’t a pre-existing injury. It happened at two sets to love, 1-1 in the third set. He had a bit of a slip, it affected his right hip and of course the right hip is the most important hip when you hit forehands. He couldn’t hit a forehand for about an hour. In the end, something must have happened … He was in pain.”

“It’s very worrying, I guess the reaction we saw from Novak at the end is a positive because it means that he can possibly fix this injury in a way. It does give hope to the locker room because Milos Raonic must be thinking Novak is a little bit injured. It gives the other players hope and it’s worrying times for Novak,” he added.

Only time will tell if Djokovic will be back in good shape when he returns to the court tomorrow.

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