Australian Open 2023: My situation with my injury is not ideal – Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic is struggling with his hamstring injury in the ongoing Australian Open and he feels his situation is not ideal. However, despite the trouble in his left leg, Djokovic booked his third-round berth in the Happy Slam as he bested Enzo Couacaud in four sets by 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday.

The Serbian had to take a medical timeout in the second set and the Frenchman was able to win that set to achieve parity. However, Djokovic gave no chance to his opponent in the next two sets to advance in the tournament.

Djokovic gave credit to Couacaud for pushing him throughout the match.

“I’m glad that I managed to win this match, of course, in four sets. Credit to Enzo for playing well, very well, I think in the second set. A lot of things were happening during this match. It was obvious him and I had some injuries, medical timeouts,” Djokovic said.

“My situation with my injury is not ideal. I obviously don’t want to go too deep into that. I wish that some things were different with the way I feel with my leg, but it is what it is. I have to take it day by day.”

Djokovic admitted he is worried because of the injury but feels he has to adjust and play according to his body.

“I am worried. I mean, I cannot say that I’m not. I have reason to be worried. But at the same time I have to accept the circumstances and try to adjust myself with my team. My physio and medical team has been doing everything possible so that I can be able to play every match,” Djokovic said.

“There’s not much more to talk about. There are two choices: leave it or keep going. So I’m going to keep going. I’m going to try to play and compete with, of course, a great player [Grigor] Dimitrov in a couple days’ time.”

Djokovic also recalled his injury in 2021 when he kept going and won the tournament.

“I know matches are only going to get tougher for me from here. Two years ago I had kind of similar circumstances here in Australia with a different muscle where I had a tear and I had to deal with that. Somehow I pushed it through and won the tournament,” Djokovic said.

“But it’s different now, obviously. I don’t know how my body’s going to react. I hope for the best.”

Djokovic will face Grigor Dimitrov in the third round on Saturday.