By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 26, 2016
"I definitely rank this season as one of the best I've had in my career. I don't feel like (the injury) has shaken me too much," says Novak Djokovic ahead of his US Open title defense.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
NEW YORK—Prowling the baseline, Novak Djokovic is a master of robbing reaction time from opponents.
The champion who uses time as a tool of punishment hopes it can help him heal.
Recovery time could be a key component to Djokovic's US Open title defense.
Watch: Top 5 Reasons Djokovic Will Break Federer's Slam Record
The world No. 1 said today his cranky left wrist that pained him in his Olympic opening-round loss to Juan Martin del Potro and forced him out of Cincinnati last week is not completely healed.
"The wrist hasn't been in ideal state for last three-and-a-half weeks," Djokovic told the media after today's US Open draw ceremony. "I'm doing everything in my power to make sure I'm as close to 100 percent as possible during the course of this tournament—at least for beginning."
Asked the exact medical term for his injury, Djokovic joked "wrist injury" and said he sustained it during practice for the Rio Olympics.
Despite the aches and pains, the 29-year-old Serbian says his confidence is still brimming after reaching six of the last seven Grand Slam finals.
"Confidence level is high," Djokovic said. "I guess the fact for the last couple of years I've played at a high consistently level and other than that loss in Olympic Games and Wimbledon, I've had a phenomenal season.
"I definitely rank this season as one of the best I've had in my career. I don't feel like it has shaken me too much. I just hope to be healthy and to be able to play the way I wish to play in the US Open. That's why I'm here. Let's see how tournament goes."
The top-seeded Serbian has contested the US Open final in five of his last six appearances in Flushing Meadows. Djokovic's two-handed backhand is his signature shot and one of the best in the sport.
Can he win a third US Open title without complete confidence in one of his best shots?
His third-round loss to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon marked Djokovic's earliest major exit since the 2009 Roland Garros. Djokovic said he feels his wrist is getting stronger, but suggested his backhand is not fully firing yet.
"After undergoing certain treatments I've gotten better," Djokovic said. "I'm just hoping Monday, when the tournament starts, I'll be able to get as close to maximum of my executing my backhand shot as possible."
His backhand could be put to the test early and often.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion opens against big-serving Jerzy Janowicz.
The game's top returner presides over a top quarter of the draw loaded with some massive servers, including left-hander Jiri Vesely, who upset Djokovic in Monte Carlo and looms as a potential second-round opponent, ATP ace leader John Isner, ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kevin Anderson, who upset Andy Murray at the Open last year and 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, who managed just three games against Djokovic in the 2015 US Open semifinals, but should be empowered after winning his first career Masters crown in Cincinnati last week.
The seventh-seeded Croatian could meet Djokovic in the US Open quarterfinals this year; Djokovic is 14-0 lifetime vs. Cilic and asserts "there is room for me to get better in next couple of days hopefully that will be the case."
"Grand Slams are valued the most in our sport historically," Djokovic said. "So these other tournaments is where I want to do well and do my best. I've had phenomenal Grand Slam career. I'm 29 at this moment and believe I'm at the peak of my abilities as a player.
"I'll try to keep that peak as consistent and enduring as much as possible. It's a privilege to be mentioned alongside all the legends of the sport that have won 10-plus Slams. And I'm honored to actually play in active tennis with two of them for the last 10 years."