Lob and Smash
Fansided

Novak Djokovic: delayed start to 2018 tour due to injury

By Harry Floyd

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia talks during a press conference on day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Toth - AELTC Pool/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12: Novak Djokovic of Serbia talks during a press conference on day nine of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 12, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Toth - AELTC Pool/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Novak Djokovic has delayed his start to the upcoming 2018 tour. He was expected to play in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship before withdrawing.

Novak Djokovic is delaying his start to the upcoming 2018 ATP World Tour.

The Serbian tennis star has not played since Wimbledon 2017 and was scheduled to play in the Mubadala World Tennis Championship this week. Now, questions have to be raised as to when Djokovic will be healthy enough to compete at a high level.

More from Lob and Smash

The former world No. 1 is a six-time champion in men’s singles at the Australian Open. His withdrawal this week implies that he may not be ready for a strong run at the upcoming Grand Slam.

Novak Djokovic is currently reevaluating the start to his 2018 tour.

With action at Melbourne Park right around the corner, Djokovic and other top players’ health remains in doubt. All eyes are on the Serbian, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, and former world No. 1 Andy Murray. They have all been dealing with injuries over the offseason.

Djokovic asserts that he intends to play at the 2018 Australian Open. If he cannot make an appearance before the major tournament next month, however, the former champion will likely play the role of an underdog rather than favorite. Given the current statuses of the sport’s top players, Federer ought to be considered the heavy favorite at Melbourne Park next month. The Swiss great is a five-time winner and the defending champion at Melbourne Park.

Next: Top 10: Men's Singles Players

Fans and players alike are awaiting the return of Novak Djokovic. The Serbian is a fan favorite on tour and has largely dominated the sport for the past decade. If he and Murray can make successful returns to the 2018 ATP World Tour, men’s singles tennis will feature a fantastic field of players. If they cannot find their rhythm in early 2018, however, young stars such as Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev will continue to gain ground on the veteran greats. Look for Djokovic to provide some much needed updates on his status in the coming week. Check back for updates on all of the action surround the start to his 2018 tour and stay tuned to see how play at the tour’s early tournaments unfolds.

Home/ATP