New York: Top-ranked defending champion Novak Djokovic said ‘life goes on’ after a shoulder injury forced him to quit Sunday’s clash with Stan Wawrinka in the last 16 round of the US Open.
Stand Wawrinka, the 23rd seed and 2016 champion, led Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 2-1 when the Serb quit with a nagging left shoulder problem that had troubled him since the start of the tournament.
“The pain was constant for weeks now. Some days higher, some days with less intensity and obviously taking different stuff to kill the pain instantly,” Novak Djokovic said. “Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. You just know, when you feel like you’re not able to hit the shot anymore,” added the Serbian.
Novak Djokovic refused to expand on the nature of his injury, which had caused him considerable pain during a second round win over Juan Ignacio Londero. “I retired and I told you it’s left shoulder. I have nothing more to talk about,” Novak Djokovic snapped back. “I don’t want to talk about my injuries. I said that in the past. I’m sticking to that.”
Djokovic had claimed he felt ‘almost pain-free’ following a straight-set defeat of Denis Kudla in round three, but the problem resurfaced against Stan Wawrinka in the first meeting between the pair since the final here three years ago.
The World No.1 received treatment before the start of the third set against Wawrinka but soon threw in the towel, the sixth time he has retired at a Grand Slam tournament.
“It is frustrating. Very frustrating. Obviously not the first, not the last player to get injured and to withdraw from one of the biggest events in sport,” Djokovic pointed out. “But obviously I just came off the court, so of course it hurts. As I said, I’m not the first or the last one to retire with an injury. Life goes on,” the Serbian informed
Djokovic, winner of four of the past five Slam events and 16 overall, remained bullish about his chances of eventually catching and surpassing long-time rival Roger Federer, who holds the men’s record of 20 major titles.
“It’s no secret that I have of course desire and a goal to reach the most Slams and reach Roger’s record,” Djokovic said. “But at the same time, it’s a long road ahead hopefully for me I hope I can play for many more years. I’m planning to. I don’t see an end behind the corner at all. Now it’s a matter of keeping my body and mind in shape,” he added.
It marked just the second time in the past decade Djokovic had pulled out of a Grand Slam match, having last retired during a 2017 Wimbledon quarterfinal against Tomas Berdych with an elbow injury.
AFP
