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Novak Djokovic comeback on hold after injury setback

Last updated on .From the section Tenniscomments103

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic suffered his elbow injury during this year's Wimbledon quarter-final

Former world number one Novak Djokovic has postponed his long-awaited comeback because of an elbow injury.

The 12-time Grand Slam winner has not played since July's Wimbledon quarter-final and was expected to face Roberto Bautista Agut at the Mubadala World Tennis Championship on Friday.

He said: "This might affect the start of the season and the tournament plan."

British number one Andy Murray, who has also been hampered by injury in recent months, will replace the Serb.

The 30-year-old Scot, who has also not played a competitive match since Wimbledon because of a hip problem, is aiming to make his competitive comeback in Brisbane next week as part of his build-up to January's Australian Open.

Murray had travelled to Abu Dhabi for more practice, but will now play Spanish world number 20 Agut in the one-set match at the exhibition tournament.

Djokovic's withdrawal from this week's event follows that of world number one Rafael Nadal, who is suffering from an ongoing knee injury. The Spaniard has also pulled out of the Brisbane International but says he still intends to play at the Australian Open.

Djokovic's participation at the first Grand Slam of the year is now in doubt.

The 30-year-old added: "Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and after several tests, my medical team has advised me not to risk anything, to withdraw from the tournament and to immediately continue with the therapies.

"I am very sad because I was eager to return to playing official matches."

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103 comments

  • Comment posted by BrutalLogiC, at 11:24 29 Dec 2017

    Shame, would love a year of the big 4 all competing injury free

  • Comment posted by Junior Boca, at 11:42 29 Dec 2017

    @Shannon the Cannon- why criticise a guy who has put his heart and soul into his sporting career for decades? Are you jealous? And your anti- Scottish jibes just make you sound like a very small- minded person. Wonder how you would be if you were asked to make these comments in person, away from the safety of your cave. And I'm English, so leave the xenophobia out of your reply.

  • Comment posted by 300game, at 11:42 29 Dec 2017

    Any chance, opportunity, and out pops the Murray haters.
    Life must be grim for them. I dont suppose Andy will be too worried about them.
    Shannon The Misfiring Cannon (comment no 5)...I wish I was a loser with millions in the bank!
    Winner of multiple grand slams and ATP tournaments. An outstanding charitible figure.
    Yep..I would love that type of loser back any day.

  • Comment posted by thepadlock, at 11:57 29 Dec 2017

    These Murray haters are a joke. Number 5 especially. I think he is an amazing ambassador for his sport and of all his achievements over the years I think he should be outrageously proud that now when I hear the word Dunblane I think of him and not the tragedy. To do that for a town that endured such dark times is nothing short of great.

  • Comment posted by These Grotesque Animals, at 11:27 29 Dec 2017

    @Shannon the Cannon - how many grand slams you bagged - you idiot...

  • Comment posted by KMac, at 11:49 29 Dec 2017

    Why does the BBC put up HYS for men’s tennis? Always ends up with a few pathetic keyboard-warriors posting some racist/ insulting nonsense about Andy Murray.

  • Comment posted by Breeko, at 12:06 29 Dec 2017

    It seems as though there has been a big 4 for a long time, and there has, but it appears to be coming to a natural end now. Even if it does, then we have still witnessed the greatest standard of tennis ever, lasting over a decade. They all pushed each other to be the players they were. Andy was unlucky in a way to be up against 3 of the GOAT but has still managed to create a legacy of his own.

  • Comment posted by Corrigenda, at 12:22 29 Dec 2017

    It is a pity but hopefully he will recover fully rather than coming back too early then having an even longer lay off. Rather disappointing to see those who use this as an excuse to have a go at Murray. Some folks really do need to get a life.

  • Comment posted by Cardiffian, at 13:14 29 Dec 2017

    Haha Murray haters you’re a joke! Don’t like his personality, then your entitled to your opinion on that, but you can’t diminish what he’s achieved.

    Wimbledon, Olympics, etc also he achieved world no.1 - Can you imagine the praise he would get if he was a British footballer winning the Ballon D’Or?

    Please state again what you’ve been world no.1 in, maybe dealing out turd messages on HYS?

  • Comment posted by manticor, at 11:22 29 Dec 2017

    Damn! Is the golden era finally over?

  • Comment posted by Ronky, at 11:34 29 Dec 2017

    Too many top players are suffering wear and tear injuries rather than sudden injuries. Federer looks to have found a way to manage his workload but there seems to be too many tournaments for players to be playing in. It's going to be a fine balance for the elite as missing too many tournaments could affect rankings and we could see the big 4 all in the same part of grand slam draws.

  • Comment posted by Jk1982, at 15:17 29 Dec 2017

    I think the last few years of tennis that the traditional top 4 (RN, ND, AM, RF) have been playing has caught up with their bodies. I wonder if we'll ever see the likes of it again whereby 4 players compete with each other, hammer & tong, for 3 hour plus matches on such a similar level. I hope we haven't seen the last of them at their best. What a fantastic era of tennis we have witnessed.

  • Comment posted by David, at 13:11 29 Dec 2017

    I genuinely despair of the sad people who use this forum to attack sportsmen whose shoes they are not fit to clean. We have been privileged to witness an era with 4 great players. Andy Murray is unquestionably one of them and to say anything else displays crass stupidity.
    We should all pray that Novak, Andy and Rafa recover fully so we can see more of the best tennis EVER. Happy New Year to all

  • Comment posted by thepadlock, at 12:06 29 Dec 2017

    shannon the cannon just be quiet. You do realise that if the top 4 hecis identical in career finals percentage to Nadal, ahead of Federer and just 2% behind Novak? It's just the mark of how tough his era is. When all at peak they traded finals evenly. Don't criticise something without any crumb of knowledge.

  • Comment posted by 300game, at 12:42 29 Dec 2017

    Hi again to Shannon The Misfiring Cannon....you forgot to have a pop at the other two Murrays. The Major winning Jaimie, and the British womens coach Judy. Lets have more of your amusing bile!!

  • Comment posted by JPMartin35, at 12:08 29 Dec 2017

    Tennis needs to possibly go more down the route of Golf i.e. 4 majors + 4 WGC events (the equivalent of Masters 1000), and then have all the other tournaments as purely optional, although with the majority of the ranking points being for the big ones.

    This 4 majors + 9 masters + countless 250/500 thing just isn't working. When was the last time all the big players were fit for the same event?

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 11:50 29 Dec 2017

    A terrible shame as the game needs the top four players competing head to head at all major tournaments. The big worry with Djokovic and Murray for that matter is that the injuries are the cumulative and maybe career defining. Both have been out for nearly six months and need game time.

  • Comment posted by Tryopeningyourmind, at 16:03 29 Dec 2017

    5. Posted by Shannon the Cannon on
    5 hours ago
    Much better player then the flop Murray!

    Scotland you can have the loser back!

    Making comments like that, I suspect the loser is the one who made the comment. How pathetic.......

  • Comment posted by Dave, at 13:02 29 Dec 2017

    Murray is a very good player, so please stop 'knocking' him. Unfortunately for him he rose near to the top in the era when there were three of most outstanding Tennis players of all time. Federer, Djokovic and Nadal. Murray was always in a final against these three Greats. Murray's best years were between 2012 to 2016.
    Nothing you can do if injuries finally take their toll.

  • Comment posted by Toto, at 11:36 29 Dec 2017

    All conquering Andy Murray will be back soon, winning slams and giving all us Brits something to be proud of. Of course, the non Brits on here are jealous and hate success from a Brit........ suck on your lemons, losers.
    :-)

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