Djoko admits: I’m losing faith in my powers of recovery

After scraping into the fourth round of the US Open by winning a match while carrying a back problem, Novak Djokovic fears that he is not the player he once was.

The 38-year-old with the record 24 Grand Slam singles titles often considers himself living on borrowed tennis time as he struggles with his game.

Djokovic is finding it tough sledding in New York, where he is competing for the 17th time, with victories always preceded by struggles.

“I don’t think there is much more that I could do than what I’m doing now, to be honest. 

“If the body doesn’t listen to me when I go deep in the Grand Slam tournaments, as it (has been) over last few Slams, then that’s a hard one to swallow for me.

“I know the amount of hours I’m putting in daily to care for my body, but at the same time,  biological age is not something that you can reverse,.

“The wear and tear on the body all these years is taking a
toll, and I’m aware of it, but I’m resisting it. 

“I’m trying to do my best to still be out there competing with the
young guys at the highest level.”

Djokovic needed a medical timeout off court for treatment of his back complaint, but came back out and patched together his win over Britain’s Cam Norrie.

“It’s frustrating for me, honestly, that I’m not able to feel 100 percent always like I have for 20-plus years. 

“But  I guess the circumstances are quite different and I have to get used to the fact that every match there’s something that might happen as it has been the case this year pretty much every Slam.

“I’m just trying to do my best, manage the days when I don’t have a match. I”ll probably skip tennis training and just focus on recovery, because that’s I think for me and my team overall the priority at the moment.”

Main photo:- Novak Djokovic scrapes into the fourth round – by Mark Greenwood/Grandslamtennis