'Losing star players to injuries is unfortunate'

Dubai: World No 3 and second seed, Novak Djokovic, hopes tennis authorities will be in a better position to redress the ever-growing problem of early-season injuries that some of the top players on the ATP Tour have suffered.

"We are working with the leadership of the ATP towards better solutions. It's obviously not going to happen overnight, but we are all trying hard," Djokovic told media after being asked about the early spate of injuries this year to some of the top players, including Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Both Nadal and Federer are members on the ATP Tour's Players' Council that deals with issues concerned with the welfare of its players.

However, both the top players have had to pull out of tournaments for separate reasons Nadal owing to troublesome knees and Federer after contracting a lung infection.

"Losing star players [to injuruies] is unfortunate for the tournament and the sponsors," Djokovic said.

"It is at top tournaments like this one that the top players attract the crowds and attention," he added.

However, the Serb insisted that a bulk of the responsibility lay with the players themselves, especially while firming up their playing schedule each season.