The surprise bordered the confrontation between Novak Djokovic and Taylor Fritz. The Serbian won the first two sets, but in the third he began to feel some discomfort that almost cost him the game. It was difficult and he recognized it himself when he finished.
“It is one of the strangest games I have ever played. Different things happened. The fans left the track mid-game (bound by confinement in Melbourne), something that hadn't happened to me before. Everything was going well for me, but At the beginning of the third set, I did a quick backhand move to the right. As I turned I felt a pinch and I felt something happen. I went out for a while to wait for the doctor and they evaluated me. I was in enormous pain and took the highest dose of anti-inflammatories possible. At the start of the fifth set I started to move and was able to come back from the back of the track. Until then, I could only do something on my serves. I had to hope and invoke a prayer to get an easy ball after my serve and give it a try. It is what I did. Sincerely, I don't know how I won this game. I am very proud, as well as sad and worried, because something serious was happening with my injury“, admitted after the party in an impromptu and brief press conference.
Nole also admitted that such a long clash is a handicap for the nearest future. “I don't have much time to recover for the next game. I will not train tomorrow. I will evaluate with the medical team and do some tests to understand what is happening to me and that they can prescribe the best possible treatment to have the slightest possibility of being able to play in less than 48 hours, “he concluded.
Wilander, on the injury: “He thinks it can be fixed”
Djokovic's situation worries looking at the development of the tournament. Many have already given their opinion and one of them is Matt Wilander, Eurosport commentator. “I guess it took him two sets to figure out what he can and can't do on the track. I think the break when the spectators left was helpful. Anti-inflammatories take a while to work. Stretched, taped … amazing. Because you still have to stay on the ball and win the game. It's very worrying, I suppose Novak's positive reaction is because that injury can be fixed. That ailment gives hope to the dressing room, and to Raonic who thinks he will be a little touched. I think the celebrations say it all: it's something he thinks can be fixed“, said the Swede.