Novak Djokovic skipped practice after raising injury concerns in his quarter-final (Image: Getty)
did not practice at Melbourne Park today after over Carlos Alcaraz.
The world No.7, who played with the help of painkillers, if he will be able to face world No.2 in the first men’s semi-final on Friday after suffering a hamstring injury.
But Djokovic will benefit from a two-day break. “The extra day with no match comes at the perfect time for me,” he said.
But the Serbian superstar’s unbelievable performance while carrying an injury caused more comment on Wednesday.
An online survey in the local Herald Sun had only 10% of respondents believing the 24-time Grand Slam was “legitimately injured”.
And former US Open champion Andy Roddick told his podcast: “He was moving as well as I’ve seen Novak move in 18 months, maybe two years.
“It didn’t work that way in my career. If I pulled a groin, it kinda tended to stay pulled and maybe get worse.”
Novak Djokovic received a medical timeout during his quarter-final and later said he was ‘concerned’ (Image: Getty)
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Alcaraz was also sceptical about Djokovic’s injury. “I think everybody saw in the second set he’s struggling a little bit to moving,” he said after the match.
“I don’t know if it was more running to the forehand or running to backhand, but obviously he was struggling. Then the third and fourth set, I didn’t see anything bad from him.
“So I’m not saying, like, he made a show. I just saying that, I don’t know.
“It’s obvious and everybody saw it that he’s struggling in the second set. Then the third and fourth set he showed he was really good.”
didn’t when he in the first set.
Commentating for Channel Nine in Australia, he said: “This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled.”
When Djokovic won the second set, John’s brother and co-commentator Patrick McEnroe asked if he saw it coming. “Yes,” John replied.