Djokovic failing to find tennis joy at IW

Novak Djokovic admits he’s struggling at the Indian Wells Masters, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner battling an arm injury.

The 38-year-old has reached the fourth round of the event he has won five times – the last a decade ago.

But the competitive outlook remains guarded for the veteran seeded third in the Californian desert. He has been playing with an arm sleeve, possibly to help with his physical problem.

‘I’m not enjoying myself’,” he said . “I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks with that forearm and trying to go through. 

“It’s a bit odd, the more I serve, the better I feel, but then it comes on and off if I get cold.” 

The Serb said he feels the most pain in the early stages of a match as he serves, but said he is “working through” it in hopes of improvement.

Djokivic is giving hjs arm a stress test as he also plays doubles, teaming with former top 10 player Stefanos Tsitsipas, with that all-star pair still alive in the team event after upsetting third seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic.

Djokivic is due on court Wednesday to Brit Jack Draper, the titleholder coming back from an arm injury of his own which cost him eight months of recovery

“I’m trying to manage my body and my mental state on a daily basis so that I can be peaking as much as I possibly can on a given day,” Djokovic said.