Novak Djokovic withdrew from Serbia’s Davis Cup first-round qualifier as a result of damage, the nation’s tennis federation mentioned on Tuesday.
Djokovic, the world’s No. 6 participant who was set to signify Serbia of their Jan. 31-Feb. 2 assembly with Denmark in Copenhagen, retired as a result of a hamstring damage in his Australian Open semifinal match towards Alexander Zverev final week.
“I did every thing I presumably can to principally handle the muscle tear that I had,” Djokovic mentioned final week in Melbourne. “In the direction of the top of that first set, I simply began feeling an increasing number of ache. It was an excessive amount of, I assume, to deal with for me in the meanwhile. Unlucky ending, however I attempted.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was booed by the gang at Melbourne Park. In response, not solely did he put each of his thumbs up earlier than leaving, he additionally posted a photograph of an MRI taken of his left hamstring on social media. “Thought I might depart this right here for all of the sports activities damage ‘specialists’ on the market,” the put up mentioned.
Djokovic, 37, was a part of the Serbian group which lifted the Davis Cup in 2010 following a memorable victory over France in Belgrade.
“We’re weakened by not taking part in Novak, however we’re nonetheless going for the win. The Danes have a fantastic participant in Holger Rune, however our gamers are additionally nice and I consider in my group,” Serbia captain Viktor Troicki mentioned.
Info from Reuters and the Related Press was used on this report.
