PERTH, Australia – Serbia, led by Novak Djokovic, advanced to the quarter-finals of the United Cup on Tuesday, but are worried about their star player injured in the right wrist, while Stefanos Tsitsipas, suffering from a back, has him gave up the singles against Chile, before losing the mixed doubles, causing Greece to lose.
The Serbian world No. 1 won in three sets against the Czech Jiri Lehecka in the group stage of the United Cup 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1, but had to give up the mixed doubles in due to wrist pain.
To take no risks, the 36-year-old did not take part in the decisive mixed doubles, watching from the Serbian team’s bench the epic victory of Olga Danilovic and Hamad Medjedovic against the Czech pair of Miriam Kolodziejova and Petr Nouza 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 10-8.
This result qualifies Serbia for the quarter against Australia on Wednesday and de facto eliminates the American title holders.
“It happened in the warm-up before the match,” Djokovic said of his wrist problem, which comes just a week before his debut at the Australian Open.
“I know that in professional sport in general, these things happen. I think it’s not a major problem, because I managed to finish the match and play well, even if I didn’t feel 100%,” the 24 Major winner wanted to reassure.
In Sydney, the other headliner of this United Cup, Stefanos Tsitsipas, beaten last year by Djokovic in the final of the Australian Open, suffered from a lower back injury.
The sixth player in the world, who was to meet Chilean number one Nicolas Jarry, withdrew, leaving his young teammate Stefanos Sakellaridis to take over.
Sakellaridis, only 19 years old and ranked 416th in the ATP, gave Jarry (19th) a hard time, but lost 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.
A little earlier, the Greek Maria Sakkari, eighth in the world, was quick (6-0, 6-1) against the Chilean Daniela Seguel. Tsitsipas, returning for the mixed doubles with Sakkari, lost 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 10-6 against Seguel and Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera.
In the other match in Sydney, Donna Vekic and Borna Coric beat Arantxa Rus and Tallon Griekspoor respectively to give Croatia a 2-0 lead against the Netherlands.
2024-01-02 13:30:35
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