12 time grand slam champion Novak Djokovic has announced he will miss the rest of the 2017 season due to an elbow injury.
In a Facebook Live video Djokovic had announced that he will miss the rest of the season due to an elbow injury that he had sustained towards the end of last season. Here is what he said on the issue, ‘After a year and a half of carrying the injury of the elbow that has culminated in the last couple of months, I have made a decision not to play any tournaments for the rest of the season.’
The World number four, who won his only tournaments in Doha and Eastbourne this year added, ‘I consulted many doctors and specialists in the last 12 to 15 months and especially in the last couple of months where the injury got worse, and they all agreed I need the rest as the injury does not recover instantly and it takes natural rehabilitation to take its course.’
Djokovic who managed to hold all four grand slams at the same time at the start of the season has looked at the positive aspects, saying, ‘Its not an easy decision for me, I am trying to be positive and believe everything in life happens for a reason. I will now spend quality time with my family and in a month and a half, me and Jelena with God’s help will become parents for a second time.’
Towards the end of his announcement he thanked his team, family and fans for his support and announced that Andre Agassi will stay as his coach next season, ‘I am looking forward to going on the practice court with him, listening to his wisdom and for him to be in my box for any big tournaments next season.’
Next Steps
The former World number one will now be unable to hold a racket for the next two months as he begins his recovery and will then look to slowly prepare for next season. It will be a big loss for the tennis world as he one of the game’s great players and also a great personality. I am sure everyone will be hoping he has a return just like Roger Federer did when he announced his season was over this time last year.
