Novak Djokovic forced to take off-court medical time out as injury fears grow at Aus Open | Tennis | Sport

Novak Djokovic called the physio towards the end of the second set of his Australian Open second-round match as he continued to struggle with the hamstring injury he picked up in Adelaide two weeks ago. The world No 5 raced to the first set but has since been embroiled in a battle in the second set and took an off-court medical time-out when Enzo Couacaud took a 5-4 lead in the second set with Djokovic stretching the muscle and wincing during the game.

Djokovic looked as though he could earn a place in the third round without playing more than a set when his opponent turned his ankle just four games into the match and needed a medical time-out before losing the opener 6-1. But the world No 191 bounced back to stay with the fourth seed throughout the second set where it became Djokovic who was struggling with injury.

The nine-time Aussie Open champion tweaked his hamstring in Adelaide two weeks ago but the injury appears to be a lot more serious than initially thought as he has been wearing strapping throughout his matches and practice sessions in Melbourne, and was forced to call the physio at 4-5 down on serve in the second set after stretching the muscle and wincing during the previous game.

He appeared to ask for his thigh to be re-taped up and the physio informed the umpire that the medical time out would take place off the court as Djokovic exited Rod Laver Arena through the tunnel with two members of staff in tow.

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