Novak Djokovic To Play Tennis With Extra Caution at Japan Open 2019

After his doubles match loss in Tokyo on Monday, World Number one tennis player, Novak Djokovic will be cautious with his singles game during the Rakuten Japan Open 2019. The Serb has just recovered from his shoulder injury which has been persisting from the US Open 2019 and he mentioned about playing tennis heedfully.

“This was not my first injury, I had that experience, especially the elbow, and it helped me with this ongoing rehabilitation process. I am in the field, but there are some things that I need to be careful with, to strengthen certain muscles around it, posture etc. Not just to heal the injury, but to prevent it from recurring,”  Djokovic said.

Novak Djokovic was asked about his injury layover which took place earlier this month and he spoke about his recovery period during those weeks. He stated that physical injuries are holistically connected to mental strata.

“It is important that in the process of recovering from an athlete’s injury, he or she is surrounded by professionals, as well as people who will help him or her go through everything mentally and emotionally,” Novak Djokovic said. “I think physical injuries are a manifestation of what is happening emotionally, I look at it holistically.”

However, he is optimistic about getting on board and this week, Novak is looking forward to playing as many matches as possible. The Serbian star play against Alexei Popirin from Australia in the first round of Rakuten Japan Open 2019.

“I hope to have a good and successful week, I hope to play as many matches as possible, and I think a year in advance because the Olympic Games will be played on the same grounds, which makes me very happy,” Djokovic said.

On Monday, Novak Djokovic played his first professional match after his retirement from the fourth round of US Open 2019. He was in tandem with his compatriot, Filip Krajinovic in the doubles match in Tokyo. 

Besides Djokovic, the rest of the ‘Big Four’ have won the Tokyo title. Roger Federer lifted up in 2006, Rafael Nadal was successful in picking up the trophy in 2010 and Andy Murray was victorious in 2011. Novak Djokovic is looking forward to winning the Japanese trophy on debut.