Novak Djokovic pulls out of 2017 US Open with elbow injury

World No. 4 Novak Djokovic has pulled out of the 2017 US Open to rehabilitate from a chronic elbow injury. The 12-time Grand Slam champion made the announcement late Wednesday via a live stream on Facebook.

The same injury forced Djokovic to retire from his quarter-final match against Tomas Berdych at Wimbledon. Djokovic, renowned for his fitness and iron will, had participated in 51 consecutive Grand Slam events before pulling out of this year's US Open (Aug. 28 to Sept. 10)
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“It is the most important for me to recover, to be able to play injury free for as long as possible, to compete in the sport that has given me so much, the sport I love. Of course I want to return to the winning form, to win again, to win the trophies. But now it is not the time to talk about it. At this point, I’m focusing on recovery," Djokovic said, via his official website.

The six-time Australian Open champion hinted at a possible return to Melbourne Park in 2018. "A prolonged break from the sport is inevitable. I’ll do whatever it takes to recover. I will use the upcoming period to strengthen my body and also to improve certain tennis elements that I have not been able to work on over the past years, due to a demanding schedule."

Zdenko Milinkovic, Djokovic's doctor, revealed the nature of the injury earlier in the week. "He has a bruised bone due to excessive playing. [He] must rest for six to 12 weeks. The next examination will know whether this assessment stays or changes. During this period, he will not train with a racket but he will run other sessions, such as fitness and the like. Of course there will be certain therapies.

“He was with a specialist at Toronto for additional tests. He also consulted our experts of course, because we are great friends. Now it’s important to rest with different types of procedures that can affect recovery. Surgery remains the last option," he told Serbian newspaper Sportski Zurnal.