Djokovic admits he is not 100 percent fit: “The elbow is not in an ideal condition, but let’s say it’s good enough”

The world No 1 spoke about his elbow and his future opponent, Frenchman Luca Van Assche, at the Banja Luka tournament press conference

Novak Djokovic (Norbert Scanella/Panoramic)

Simon Cambers

April 17, 2023

Novak Djokovic has calmed down. Last Thursday, after his defeat in the last 16 of the Monte Carlo Masters 1000 against Lorenzo Musetti, he spent very little time in the press conference, contenting himself with short answers.

Asked about his physical condition, he wore an elbow brace that he didn’t have in his first match in the Principality, the Serbian didn’t want to say more, saying only: “I can’t say anything. I’m OK. Its fine.”

But on Monday, in Banja Luka, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the world No 1 was smiling again. Morally speaking, anyway. The man with 22 Grand Slam titles said a little more about his physical condition but it is not really reassuring.

“The elbow is not in an ideal condition, but let’s say it’s good enough,” Djokovic told a press conference. “I hope it will be fully ready for the first match.”

Djokovic to play Van Aassche in opening match

His first match is scheduled for Wednesday and it will be against Luca Van Assche, the 18-year-old Frenchman, ranked 87th in the world, who knocked out Stan Wawrinka in three sets on Monday.

The Serb admitted that he was expecting to face his great Swiss rival (20-6 for Djokovic in head-to-head matches) when he saw the draw. But he will be wary of the 2021 French Open junior winner.

“I’ve never met this player before, I don’t know much about him,” he said. “I know he’s young, I know he’s just joined the top 100, and I really thought Wawrinka was going to win today, he led most of the match.

“So it is indeed a surprise, the victory of this fighting Frenchman (…) fast, very difficult to control.”