Serbian player Novak Djokovic overcame a wrist injury and led his team to qualify for the quarter-finals of the United Cup, setting up an exciting match against Australia. The day was filled with intense tension and chaos in Perth.
The top-ranked player in the world experienced discomfort in his right wrist during Tuesday morning’s practice, resulting in extensive treatment from his physiotherapist. However, Djokovic was given the green light to compete in his singles match against Jiri Lehecka later in the day. This was a crucial development for Serbia, especially after Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic defeated Olga Danilovic 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 and gave her team a 1-0 advantage in the tie.
The player with 24 grand slam titles seemed to be headed towards a straightforward win against Lehecka as they won the first set and gained a 3-1 lead in the second. However, as the match progressed, Djokovic’s wrist issues worsened and he began making unusual mistakes. After losing the tie-break in the second set, he took a break for medical attention. He returned to the court with renewed energy, earning a double break in the third set and ultimately securing a 6-1, 6-7 (7-3), 6-1 triumph.
“I was able to successfully complete the match,” Djokovic stated. “It’s not a new or uncommon occurrence; these things happen. You just have to handle it and find a way to overcome it. Fortunately, I was able to finish the match.”
There was uncertainty following the match about whether Serbia had secured a spot in the quarter-finals. Initially, officials stated that even if Serbia lost the mixed doubles and the overall tie, they would still advance as the top second-placed team in Perth. However, this was incorrect and it was later clarified that Serbia would be eliminated if they lost the mixed doubles in straight sets.
Djokovic decided not to participate in the mixed doubles, possibly because he believed Serbia had already secured a spot in the quarter-finals. Initially, Serbia seemed to be in trouble when Danilovic and Medjedovic lost the first set to Kolodziejova and Nouza. However, Serbia’s advancement was secure when they won the second set in a tie-break, as Djokovic looked pleased and relieved while observing from the sidelines. Ultimately, Serbia won the match 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 10-8 in a match tie-break.
Serbia finished first in Group E and will face the winners of Group C, Australia, in the quarter-finals at RAC Arena on Wednesday night. This will set up a match between Djokovic and world No 12, Alex de Minaur, who displayed his talent with a powerful 6-4, 6-2 victory over world No 10 Taylor Fritz on Monday. The other quarter-final in Perth will feature Poland against China.
In the beginning of his singles match, Djokovic did not seem to be hindered by his wrist injury. He was able to break Lehecka’s serve in both the fourth and sixth games, winning the first set in just 34 minutes. The outcome of the match seemed certain when Djokovic took a 3-1 lead in the second set.
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Lehecka came alive and managed to break Djokovic’s serve twice, taking a 5-3 lead. However, Djokovic was able to break back and force a tie-break, but due to a string of mistakes, Lehecka ended up winning the set. After the tie-break, Djokovic took a medical time-out which seemed to have a positive effect as he breezed through the third set in just 35 minutes, ultimately winning the match.
Source: theguardian.com
