Injury worries for Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas as Serbia squeeze into quarters

Novak Djokovic downplayed concerns over a sore right wrist, which required on-court treatment, as he led Serbia to the quarter-finals of the United Cup. The world number one managed to secure a 6-1, 6-7 (3/7), 6-1 victory over the Czech Republic's Jiri Lehecka but needed multiple visits from the trainer. Djokovic did not participate in the mixed doubles, watching from the bench as Olga Danilovic and Hamad Medjedovic sealed the win against the Czech pair.

This victory sets up a quarter-final clash for Serbia against Australia. The defending champions, the United States, are now out of the competition, with one more day of quarter-final play in Perth before the event shifts to a weekend finish in Sydney.

Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, revealed the wrist issue occurred in the warm-up before the match. Despite constant treatment, he finished the match and expressed optimism about recovering for the upcoming tie against Australia.


The result means that defending champions the United States are out, with one more day of quarter-final play in Perth to go before the event shifts to a weekend finish in Sydney.

"It happened in the warm-up today before the match," said Djokovic of the wrist issue, which comes barely a week ahead of his defence of the Australian Open.

"I basically got constant treatment before the match, during the match, after the match, you know, trying to address the issue that I'm facing today in the best possible way.

"I know professional sport in general, these things happen. I think it's not a major concern, because I still managed to finish the match and managed to play well, even though I maybe wasn't feeling 100 percent.

"Hopefully I'll have enough time to recover for tomorrow's tie against Australia," added the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

In another Perth quarter-final on Wednesday, Poland will face China.

Meanwhile, in Sydney, Stefanos Tsitsipas faced a lower back injury, forcing him to sit out his expected match against Chilean number one Nicolas Jarry. His teammate Stefanos Sakellaridis stepped up but fell short against Jarry. Tsitsipas returned for the mixed doubles but, along with teammate Maria Sakkari, lost to the Chilean pair.

In the other Sydney tie, Donna Vekic and Borna Coric secured a 2-0 lead for Croatia over the Netherlands with victories against Arantxa Rus and Tallon Griekspoor, respectively.

Lower back pain
In Sydney, Stefanos Tsitsipas, beaten by Djokovic in the Australian Open final last year, also struggled with an injury, to the lower back.

The Greek world number six was expected to meet Chilean number one Nicolas Jarry, but sat it out, leaving teammate Stefanos Sakellaridis to step up.

Sakellaridis, just 19 years old and ranked 416, put up an outstanding fight against the 19th-ranked Jarry, but fell short 6-3, 3-6, 7-5.

Greek world number eight Maria Sakkari had earlier earned a commanding 6-0, 6-1 victory over Chile's outclassed Daniela Seguel.

Tsitsipas returned for the crucial mixed doubles decider with Sakkari, but they lost 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 10-6 to Seguel and Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera.

"It's amazing, amazing," Barrios Vera said. "It's our second match as a team, so we're super happy."