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Novak Djokovic stretching for all Australian Open final
Australian Open, Novak Djokovic, Tennis News

‘I will have to take time off to heal – the tear is now bigger,’ says Novak Djokovic


Novak Djokovic has revealed the full toll his Australian Open campaign took on his body, confirming his abdominal tera has widened.

Djokovic injured his oblique abdominal muscle in the third round at Melbourne, yet was able to play through the pain to win the tournament.

Cans immediately after the injury showed a 17mm tear, yet when he went for a second scan after the final the scan showed it had grown to 25mm.

“I just came actually came from another MRI that I’ve done this morning and the damage is bigger than what it was when it happened, when I did the first MRI after the third round,” Djokovic told the press.

“It’s not too bad judging by what doctor said but I’ll have to take some time off and heal. The tear is bigger.”

However, Djokovic, understandably, does not regret playing through the pain barrier to land a ninth Australian Open title.

“I reflect on it as a great experience, and a unique journey, and I would definitely remember and try to take out a lot of positives from it.

“I have learned a lot of lessons, and learned a lot of things, about myself and about everything that was going on in the last five to six weeks, but I think that everything that was happening on and off the court makes this victory even better and even sweeter.”


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Michael Graham, Tennishead.net Editor, has been a professional sports journalist for his whole career and is especially passionate about tennis. He's been the Editor of Tennishead.net for over 5 years and loves watching live tennis by visiting as many tournaments as possible. Michael specialises in writing in-depth features about the ATP & WTA tours.