Djokovic’s right wrist issues came back to haunt him during Serbia’s United Cup quarter-final against Australia. The 36-year-old needed a medical time out after dropping the second set of his match to Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday but stormed back to win 6-1 6-7(3) 6-1.
“Hopefully I’ll have enough time to recover for tomorrow’s tie against Australia that is in the afternoon hours, so, you know, more time for us,” he said of the issue after Serbia advanced out of the group stage. It became clear that Djokovic was still suffering when the physio came to the court to rub his wrist in two changeovers while he faced De Minaur on Wednesday.
And there was some confusion when the world No. 1 started asking the physio why he couldn’t receive a full medical time out. “What are you talking about, it’s the injury you treated yesterday?” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said in response to an inaudible comment from the trainer.
Because Djokovic took to the court with the same injury he suffered with on Tuesday, it appeared that he was ineligible for an official medical time out. But the 36-year-old argued that the issue improved before his match against De Minaur and only worsened when he started playing.
The Serb added: “So the logic in that, if it continues getting worse the next day you won’t treat it because it has already been recurring yesterday? I said it has improved before the match and when I started playing and the more I’m playing, it’s getting worse. That’s what I told you.”
As the physio left the court at the conclusion of the changeover, commentator Jim Courier noted that Djokovic wouldn’t be satisfied with the confusing conversation. “It kind of came into the conversation after it started. I’m not sure if he was asking to receive a medical time out and the trainer said no it’s not a new injury we can’t give you one,” he said.
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