“I’m not saying he’s not injured but it can’t be that bad”: Sam Groth on Novak Djokovic’s injury

“I’m not saying he’s not injured but it can’t be that bad”: Sam Groth on Novak Djokovic’s injury
WhatsApp Image 2021 02 13 at 09.06.14
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic‘s injury has been the talk in the tennis world amidst the Australian Open. People have been divided on the same, whether Djokovic is really injured that bad or not.

Former Australian tennis player, Sam Groth has joined the long list of doubters who believe Novak Djokovic overstated his injury status during the tournament.

Djokovic developed an abdominal injury mid-match in the third round against Taylor Fritz. He went on to win the match in five sets and followed it up with two 4-set wins in the 4th Round and QF against Alexander Zverev.

Asked last Friday straight after his third-round win about being ready for his next match, Djokovic replied: “I know it’s a tear, definitely, of the muscle. … I don’t know if I’m going to step out onto the court or not.”

“Is he injured? I don’t know”: Sam Groth

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

For years now, the world No.1 has been accused of playing up injury and using it as a distraction when he’s in trouble during a match. Former tennis star, Sam Groth questioned the same.

“Is he injured? I don’t know,” Groth told Nine.

“If he is, it’s not hindering him because he won in five against Fritz with the injury, he beat Zverev, an amazing opponent and I thought it was going to be a tough match and it turned out to be.

“You don’t play those kind of physical encounters and get through them like he is if the injury is hampering you to a point where you can’t play. I’m not saying he’s not injured but it can’t be that bad if you’re able to go five sets, four sets, four sets.”

He went on to say that some players have already pulled out because of injuries.

“We’ve seen Casper Ruud pull out, Berrettini as well; Dimitrov struggled through a side strain,” Groth said.

“Five sets is a true test of the physicality, the mental, the tactical. At the moment Novak says he’s got an injury but seems to be pulling up just fine over five sets.”, he concluded.

Also read: Australian Open 2021: “I don’t write the rules”, Ashleigh Barty on Muchova’s medical timeout