Novak Djokovic back on the courts. The Serb, who returns for the Rome tournament, gave reassuring news about his injuries. A few weeks before Roland Garros, the tennis player hopes to be 100% back for the Grand Slam at Porte d’Auteuil.
“Everything is fine, everything is fine,” assured Novak Djokovic on Thursday in Rome, on the eve of his entry into contention in the last big preparation tournament for Roland-Garros, when he has been handicapped in recent weeks by a elbow pain. “There are always a few little things here and there that get in the way, but that’s normal,” added the Serb without further details.
“And then when you are no longer 25, I think you feel things more (smile). It takes a little longer, I imagine, to recover. But I feel good, “insisted the player who will turn 36 on May 22.
“I miss the competition”
After missing the hard North American tour (Indian Wells and Miami) for lack of an anti-covid vaccine, Djokovic injured his right elbow just before returning to competition in Monte-Carlo in early April. He lost there in his second match, in the round of 16. Then he lost in the quarterfinals in Banja Luka before withdrawing to Madrid. “I miss the competition,” he said on Thursday.
The world number 1, who will give up his place at the top of the ATP hierarchy to Carlos Alcaraz at the end of the Masters 1000 in Rome whatever the results, must face the Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry on Friday in the second round ( 61st).