Novak Djokovic battled through a wrist injury during his United Cup match against Jiri Lehecka on Tuesday, to secure a 6-1 6-7(3) 6-1 win for Serbia, drawing them level with the Czech Republic in the $10 million mixed team event.
Despite appearing to be bothered by his right wrist during practice, Djokovic soldiered on and even took a medical timeout before the start of the third set.
Ultimately, he came out firing and won the match with a 5-0 lead.
After the game, the 36-year-old tennis superstar revealed that his wrist was sore.
“But I managed to play it through and it’s not the first or the last time,” he added. “These things happen. You just have to manage and find a solution. Let’s see what happens now.”
Djokovic is currently preparing for the upcoming Australian Open Grand Slam that runs from January 14-28 at Melbourne Park where he will be aiming for an 11th title.
Djokovic had been scheduled to play in the deciding mixed doubles with Olga Danilovic but has been replaced by Hamad Medjedovic, WTVB reported.
Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova had earlier given the Czechs a 1-0 lead by beating Danilovic 6-1 3-6 6-3, Reuters reported.
Greece was stunned by Chile in their Group B opener, with Maria Sakkari and Stefanos Tsitsipas losing 6-7(5) 6-3 10-6 to Daniela Seguel and Tomas Barrios Vera in the mixed doubles decider at Sydney’s Ken Rosewell Arena.
Sakkari beat Seguel 6-0 6-1 in the opener before Chile’s Jarry downed Stefanos Sakellaridis 6-3 3-6 7-5 to level the tie after the Greeks decided not to field Australian Open runner-up Tsitsipas in the singles.
