Novak Djokovic says injury doubt give him extra motivation

• Novak Djokovic says doubts about his hamstring injury cause.
• Serb takes aim at sceptics, saying: “I leave the doubting to those people; let them doubt”.
• The 35-year-old will play Andrey Rublev of Russia in quarterfinals.

Any doubts about whether he has actually been dealing with a hamstring issue at the Australian Open, according to Novak Djokovic, simply serve to bolster his resolve and drive.

Despite the injury that he had earlier said made it uncertain whether he could continue in the competition, the Serbian remained on track for a 10th Melbourne Park victory on Monday with a thumping of Alex de Minaur in the fourth round.

The 35-year-old claimed to feel as good as he has since suffering the injury in an Adelaide warm-up tournament at his English post-match press conference, but in later remarks to Serbian media, he took aim at the sceptics.

He said, according to the Tennis Majors website, “I leave the doubting to those people; let them doubt.”

“Only my injuries are questioned. When some other players are injured, then they are the victims, but when it is me, I am faking it. It is very interesting. I don’t feel that I need to prove anything to anyone.”

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Djokovic, who was barred from Australia due to his position on Covid-19 vaccinations and missed the tournament last year, struggled with an abdomen issue throughout his journey to his ninth championship in 2021.

“I have got the MRI, ultrasound and everything else, both from two years ago and now,” he added.

“Whether I will publish that in my documentary or on the social media depends on how I feel. Maybe I will do I it, maybe I won’t.”

By winning a 22nd Grand Slam championship on Sunday, Djokovic will tie Rafa Nadal’s record. However, the Serbian player frequently laments that he is not regarded as highly as Roger Federer and the injury-prone Spaniard.

“I am not really interested at this point what people are thinking and saying,” he said.

“It is fun, it is interesting to see how the narrative surrounding me continues, narrative that is different compared to other players that have been going through a similar situation.

“But I am used to it, and it just gives me extra strength and motivation. So I thank them for that.”

On Wednesday, Djokovic will face Andrey Rublev of Russia in the quarterfinals.

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