Novak Djokovic: My Ankle Is Not Bothering Me, I’m Confident Of Playing Well The Next Few Weeks
Novak Djokovic met the press today at the Italian Open in Rome. Just a few days after suffering a shock loss to Grigor Dimitrov during which he turned his bad ankle, the World No. 1 updated the press on the state of the injury and on how he feels heading into this final event before the French Open.
“I feel better and the ankle is not bothering me,” Djokovic said. “I try not to think about it as I know that I did not have any big injury in my career, perhaps 2011 with stomach and now the ankle injury but injury is part of the sport.
“And then it’s a mental thing too and trying not to make it become something mental and I am already slowly starting to release the protection for my ankle and its more stable and there is no pain and I’m confident in the next few weeks to play well.”
With three titles including the Australian Open, the Serb is pleased thus far with his season. But the biggest goal awaits later this month.
“I feel good this year so far and three titles so far and unexpected defeats but you win and you lose,” he said. “I don’t expect to win all the matches and don’t underestimate the opponents. There are many players outside of the top 4 or 5 who are dangerous.
“I am working harder day by day with a great team and everything is going in the right direction.”
Djokovic, a two-time Rome champion in 2008 and 2011, begins his bid for a third title against the Montanes-Klizan winner Tuesday or Wednesday.
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