Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 27 July 2017
Djokovic consecutive major tro- starts Aug. 28.
phies, Djokovic’s form has “All the doctors I’ve con-
dipped. sulted, and all the special-
Continued from previous Page His ranking dropped from ists I have visited, in Serbia
Since entering his first ma- No. 1 to No. 4; he failed to and all over the world,
jor tournament at the 2005 defend any of those major have agreed that this injury
Australian Open, Djokovic titles. requires rest.
has never missed one, the He acknowledged A prolonged break from
third-longest active run Wednesday that he “felt the sport is inevitable,”
among men and seventh- worn out” and “flat” after Djokovic said. “I’ll do what-
longest in history. the run of success that cul- ever it takes to recover.”
In that time, the 30-year- minated at Roland Garros Federer demonstrated the
old Serb has won 12 Grand in 2016. benefits of a break last
Slam titles, including the “I was searching for myself, year, sitting out after Wim-
U.S. Open in 2011 and 2015. for motivation,” he said. bledon to let his surgically
Only three men have won Djokovic made it past the repaired left knee heal fully.
more major tennis singles Tennis player Novak Djokovic gestures, during a press confer- quarterfinals at only one He missed the Rio Olym-
championships: Federer ence in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, July 26, 2017. of the past five majors: last pics and U.S. Open and
Associated Press
(19), Rafael Nadal (15) and year’s U.S. Open, where dropped out of the top 10
Pete Sampras (14). “He supports my decision to ing during his Wimbledon he lost in the final to Stan in the rankings.
“The remarkable series has take a break and remains quarterfinal against Tomas Wawrinka. But Federer was rejuve-
come to an end,” Djokovic my head coach,” Djokovic Berdych because the el- Djokovic, who also men- nated at age 35 when he
said. “My body has its limits, said about Agassi, also not- bow was too painful. tioned Wednesday that his returned at the beginning
and I have to respect that ing that he’ll be looking for Djokovic said then he wife is expecting their sec- of this season and won the
and be grateful for all that I a new fitness trainer. “He is had been struggling with ond child, reached at least Australian Open to end
have achieved so far.” going to help me get back the elbow on his racket- the semifinals at Arthur a 4½-year Grand Slam
He said that Andre Agassi, into shape and bounce swinging arm for about 1½ Ashe Stadium each of the drought, plus titles at Indian
with whom he recently be- back strong after the re- years, which he reiterated past 10 years. That includes Wells and Miami.
gan working on a part-time covery period.” Wednesday. He said he seven appearances in the He took more time off after
basis, will be his coach af- Djokovic made his an- does not need surgery. final. that, missing the clay-court
ter the hiatus. Djokovic nouncement via Face- Since winning the 2016 Henri Laaksonen of Switzer- circuit, and returned for the
plans to start with a tuneup book , his website and at French Open to become land, who is ranked 95th, grass, winning his eighth
tournament ahead of the a news conference in Bel- the eighth man to com- will get Djokovic’s spot in Wimbledon championship
Australian Open at the grade, Serbia. plete a career Grand Slam the field at Flushing Mead- and 19th major title overall
start of 2018. His last match was on July and the first man in nearly
12, when he stopped play- a half-century to win four ows. This year’s U.S. Open this month.q