• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

JE Sports Desk:  Novak Djokovic is one of the few players to have stayed away from major injuries during most of the part of his long and proud career. Djokovic has acknowledged the reason being injury-free throughout his career has helped him stay at the top for so long.

Compared to the likes of his other two rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic has suffered relatively few major injuries so far. Since making his Grand Slam debut at the 2005 Australian Open, he has missed just the 2017 US Open through injury concerns.

"Luckily for me, I've had only one significant injury that kept me out of the circuit for almost a year on and off with the surgery of the elbow. Other than that, there were some muscle tears and injuries, but generally, I've kept healthy, considering the intensity of my career and the number of matches I've played in the last 20 years," he said at a press conference.

 

ALSO READ: 'Jet, Set & Go', Indian Team Reach Dominica Ahead Of First Test Against West Indies

 

The Serbian star emerged victorious 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(5) against Stan Wawrinka in the third-round clash of the Gland Slam champions at Wimbledon 2023.

Djokovic further said that he has worked on his flexibility since his formative years.

"Tennis is a sport that is quite complex in this way. It requires a player to have really a great balance, an optimal balance, between all these traits, so to say, physical traits. Then again, we are all different. We all have different body types," he said.

"I always have worked a lot on my flexibility, since a young age," he added. "I was taught this was extremely important because that's going to give me longevity. Focusing a lot and doing a lot on prevention."

The 23-time Grand Slam winner also revealed that a lot of work goes on behind the scenes to ensure she stays in the best possible physical shape.

"Just before I get on the practice court, there's a lot of work that goes into it, a few hours of work before I actually get to the training court. That helps me. It helps extend my career. It helps me still compete at the highest level," he explained.

After the win over Wawrinka, Djokovic hailed him for still being tough and going strong.

 

ALSO READ: BCCI Plans To Formulate Policy On Indian Players' Participation In Overseas Leagues, Stadiums Upgradation To Take Place In 2 Phases

 

"I have to say that it's amazing what Stan is doing. Still his age, after several surgeries. We are two old guys fighting with the young guns, I think it's important to acknowledge that. He was forced to drop [in] the rankings in the last couple of years [and is] trying to build his ranking," he said in his on-court interview.

In the round of 16, Djokovic will be playing 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated 14th seed Lorenzo Musetti 7-6(4), 6-4, 6-4 earlier.