Was Djokovic’s hamstring really that bad? Ex-Aussie Olympian speaks on possibility of 3cm tear
The revelation Novak Djokovic won the Australian Open with a three-centimetre tear in his hamstring has rocked the tennis community.
The now-world no.1 came in under an injury cloud after sustaining a niggle at the Adelaide International but proved he was a class above in his 10th Australian Open title.
Djokovic played with a taped hamstring earlier in the tournament, but that had disappeared for the final, with the Serbian demonstrating his extraordinary agility on several occasions.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley made the declaration to SEN Sportsday that the Serbian’s injury was worse than many would have thought.
“This guy I did see, he had a three-centimetre tear in his hammy,” he said on Saturday.
“Absolutely (I saw the scans), the doctors are going to tell you the truth.
“There was a lot of speculation about whether it was true or not, it’s hard to believe what they can do what they do with those kinds of injuries.”
Tiley’s last comment certainly rings true, with social media sentiment suggesting many believe Djokovic could indeed not have done what he did with the reported injury.
Impossible
— Matthew Richardson (@mattricho0) February 1, 2023
He couldn’t practice on his off days during the first Grand Slam of 2023, but did admit he felt his health improved as the tournament went on.
“I‘ve tried about every biofeedback machine there is on this planet in order to get my leg ready. And it worked. I’m going to keep going,” Djokovic said.
“I don‘t feel like I need to prove anything to anyone. It did affect me, especially in the first week.
“From the fourth round onwards, I felt like it was behind me … It actually helped my tennis a lot because I felt like I could run free. I was not thinking about it.”
Five-time Australian Olympian Andrew Gaze admitted the injury was hard to fathom given Djokovic’s performance at Melbourne Park.
However, he took Tiley for his word.
“That’s a sizeable tear when it comes to the hamstring in particular,” Gaze said on SEN’s The Run Home.
“I find it very hard to believe, that’s for sure. The improvement he got from a three-centimetre tear to wear he got at the end of the tournament, it’s a remarkable healing process he went through.
“Given the way he played it’s hard to think it could be a three-centimetre tear, but the fact it’s a champion and he’s able to power through and dig deep, why should we doubt it?”
The 22-time Grand Slam champion is yet to confirm the accuracy of Tiley’s information, but had previously suggested he’d reveal more on his injury in time.
With the win in Melbourne, Djokovic equalled Rafael Nadal’s all-time record of 22 Grand Slams.