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🇫🇷 France /Sports

Djokovic, hampered by illness, says he felt “very bad in every match” this year

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Interview Named sources Outcome reported
  • Novak Djokovic lost to Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open after struggling with vomiting, cramps and pain.
  • Djokovic said he had felt very bad in every match this year and that his back and shoulder eventually failed him.
  • He considered retiring but continued after winning two sets, saying he was focused on dealing with the problem in the present.

Novak Djokovic’s first-round US Open exit followed another match in which he said a recurring health problem left him feeling very bad. The Serbian lost to Argentina’s Mariano Navone, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Djokovic said vomiting had troubled him in every match this year and described the issue as serious. He said his body began to fail with cramps and pain before his back and shoulder could no longer continue.

I felt very bad on the court. Unfortunately, this is something I have experienced in every match this year: vomiting. It is serious.

— Novak DjokovicDjokovic describing the symptoms that affected him during the US Open match.

“I do not want to minimize his victory. Congratulations to him. He is a nice guy, a warrior. But I did not have a good time,” Djokovic said of Navone after the match.

I do not want to minimize his victory. Congratulations to him. He is a nice guy, a warrior. But I did not have a good time.

— Novak DjokovicDjokovic acknowledging Navone’s win while describing his own condition.

Asked whether he had considered retiring, Djokovic said he had, but winning the third and fourth sets made him think he still had a chance. “I did not want to stop in the fourth or fifth set. I wanted to finish this match,” he said.

The loss marked the first time in 20 years that Djokovic had been eliminated in the opening round of a Grand Slam tournament. He said he was proud of what he had achieved but was concentrating on managing his body and seeing how far he could go under the circumstances.

I did not want to stop in the fourth or fifth set. I wanted to finish this match.

— Novak DjokovicDjokovic explaining why he continued despite considering retirement.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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