New York: Former world number one Novak Djokovic is in doubt for the US Open due to his elbow injury, Serbian media reported, citing the country’s Davis Cup team doctor.
Djokovic retired hurt during the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and said he was considering taking a break from playing to recover from the long-standing injury to his right elbow.
Serbia’s Sportski Zurnal reported that the 30-year-old could face up to 12 weeks on the sidelines.
“He has a bruised bone due to excessive playing,” it quoted Zdenko Milinkovic as saying.
The 12-times grand slam champion won the US Open in 2011 and 2015. This year’s tournament begins on August 28.
Britain’s The Times said Djokovic would make a decision about his playing schedule over the next 24 hours and that an announcement would be made at a news conference in Belgrade this week.
“We are doing different checks and getting opinions from more than one doctor,” The Times quoted his spokesman as saying.
Djokovic has appeared in 51 straight grand slams since his debut at the 2005 Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Australian two-time Grand Slam singles champion Mervyn Rose, who went on to coach greats Margaret Court and Billie Jean King, has died, tennis officials said Tuesday.
Rose, who won the Australian Open and French Open along with five Grand Slam doubles titles, was 87.
“The tennis family is mourning the passing of seven-time Grand Slam champion Mervyn Rose and our thoughts are with his family and friends,” said Tennis Australia.
Rose claimed his first major title at the 1954 Australian Open, defeating defending champion and top seed Ken Rosewall on the way to the final, where he beat his long-time doubles partner Rex Hartwig.
A left-hander known for perfecting the art of chip and charge, he went on to win at Roland Garros four years later, overcoming Chile’s Luis Ayala in the final.
Rose was also part of Australia’s 1951 and 1957 Davis Cup-winning teams, reaching a career-high three in the world.
After retiring from playing, he made the transition to coaching, working with some of the greats including Court, King and Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario.
He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2001, the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame a year later and was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia for his service to tennis in 2006.
