Djokovic Returns to Competition at Swiss Indoors

November 1, 2011 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Novak Djokovic says time is needed to gain back his form after a year of three major wins ended early with a back injury that left him sidelined for six weeks. The top-ranked Serbian has resumed play this week at the Swiss Indoors event after retiring from his last match over a month ago on Sept. 18 against Spain’s Juan Martin del Potro in the Davis Cup.

"Certainly, it’s going to take me some time to get back to the right shape," Djokovic said. He will go up against Xavier Malisse of Belgium who is currently ranked 50th in the world.

Djokovic has undergone daily therapy on his back which led him to miss the Asian tournament schedules and his shot at besting John McEnroe’s 82-3 season of 1984.

"The injury is never welcome, but it came in the right moment, let’s say. It gave me a little more time to rest and recover. I think it was the longest break I had in the last four or five years," said Djokovic.

The Paris Masters and the ATP World Tour finals are all the remains before the season concludes and Novak must win them all if he wants to approach McEnroe’s season record.

"I think I’m doing well handling everything that comes with the new position that I have. I haven’t changed my professionalism or anything like that in the last couple of months," Djokovic said.

 

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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