Injured Back Forces Djokovic Out of China Open

Serbian Novak Djokovic, winner of the 2011 U.S. Open, has dropped out of play in the China Open due to a back injury. After winning the U.S. Open, his medical team says that the injuries he sustained have not yet fully healed. His injury was further worsened in his finals match at the U.S. Open against Rafael Nadal.

The Shanghai Masters tournament begins in two weeks and it is still not known whether or not Djokovic will take part in that event either.

Djokovic's injury is a partial rupture of a back muscle which also led him to pull out of the Davis Cup semifinals playing for his nation of Serbia.