Djokovic wrist injury a worry for Tel Aviv

Novak Djokovic will count on help from his physio to ensure that a wrist problem which bothered him at the weekend Laver Cup does not impede his Tel Aviv debut next week.

The ATP 250 tournament was added to the schedule after the traditional Asian swing – mainly based in China – had to be scrapped for a second consecutive year in the COVID era.

Djokovic put his right wrist through its paces on Saturday, winning singles and doubles ties at the Laver event in London.

But his injury caught up with him on Sunday as he lost a singles rubber  6-3, 7-6(3) to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Europe v World team event.

World claimed its first title in five editions, winning 13-8.

“I’ve been struggling with my right wrist for the last four/five days, to be honest. I have been keeping it under control,” the Serb said.

“The two matches yesterday probably had an effect. 

“Today was not easy. I couldn’t serve as fast or as accurately as I would like to.

“Could be (from) not playing almost three months of matches (he was banned from North American events last month due to his refusal to get the COVID jab) 

“And conditions here are such that the balls are really big and slow.

“You always have to generate a lot of wrist action and speed, which could be the case as to why I have been feeling soreness in my right wrist.”

Main photo:- Novak Djokovic played Laver Cup with wrist injury by Clive Brunskill/Getty/ATPTour.com