FORMER world number one Novak Djokovic's preparation for next month's Australian Open suffered a blow after he pulled out of the season-opening exhibition event in Abu Dhabi on Friday due to pain in his right elbow.
The 12-time grand slam winner was scheduled to kickstart the new season against Roberto Bautista Agut but was advised by his medical team to skip the tournament just hours before the match.
Djokovic has not played since he was forced to retire against Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon in July due to an elbow injury.
"I am terribly disappointed that I am forced to withdraw from the Mubadala World Tennis Championship," the Serb said in a statement.
"Unfortunately, in the past few days I started to feel pain in the elbow and after several tests, my medical team has advised me not to risk anything, to withdraw from the tournament and to immediately continue with the therapies.
"I am very sad because I was eager to return to playing official matches. Now I need to accept this situation, and to wait for the results of the therapies, in order to start playing tennis again and getting back to full rhythm."
Organisers said that Britain's Andy Murray had agreed to step in and play an exhibition match against Bautista Agut instead. Murray has been out of competitive action for six months due to an ongoing hip problem but was in Abu Dhabi as part of his rehabilitation.
The Australian Open, the first grand slam of 2018, begins on Jan 15 at Melbourne Park.
Reuters
Fri Dec 29 2017
Djokovic (pic) was scheduled to kickstart the new season against Roberto Bautista Agut but was advised by his medical team to skip the tournament just hours before the match. - REUTERS/File
Sabah raih pelaburan RM11.34 bilion pada tahun lepas - Tun Juhar
Sabah menerima pelaburan berjumlah RM11.34 bilion pada tahun lepas, sekali gus menjadikannya negeri ketujuh meraih pelaburan tertinggi di negara ini.
Banjir Dubai: Pengembara Malaysia turut terkesan
Menurut laporan media Emiriah Arab Bersatu (UAE) dilanda hujan lebat sejak lewat Isnin hingga Selasa malam, mengatasi rekod sejak data mula dikumpulkan pada 1949.
Pasaran getah Malaysia ditutup rendah bagi tiga hari berturut-turut
Pada 5 petang, harga rujukan MRB bagi SMR 20 fizikal berada pada 765 sen sekilogram manakala lateks pukal pada 735 sen sekilogram.
AWANI Ringkas: Harga benih padi | Hilang kad pengenalan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Bursa Malaysia ditutup tinggi susulan sentimen yang bertambah baik
Pada 5 petang, FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI (FBM KLCI) naik 4.34 mata atau 0.28 peratus kepada 1,544.76 daripada paras penutup 1,540.42 pada Rabu.
Ringgit terus ditutup tinggi berbanding dolar AS
Pada 6 petang, ringgit meningkat kepada 4.7840/7870 berbanding dolar AS daripada paras penutup 4.7910/7950 pada Rabu.
AWANI 7:45 [18/04/2024] – Empat letusan sehari | Setuju secara dasar | Misi ke Gaza | Kutipan cecah lebih RM1 juta
- Gunung Ruang meletus, Indonesia keluar amaran tertinggi, MetMalaysia pantau
- Kerajaan setuju peruntukan pembangkang, PN tengok syarat dulu
- Gaza Kami Datang, 19 aktivitis Malaysia berlepas ke Istanbul
- Sheriff ucap terima kasih, tayangan awal kutip RM1juta
- Kerajaan setuju peruntukan pembangkang, PN tengok syarat dulu
- Gaza Kami Datang, 19 aktivitis Malaysia berlepas ke Istanbul
- Sheriff ucap terima kasih, tayangan awal kutip RM1juta
Menara Merdeka 118 terima pensijilan LEED Platinum
PNBMV berkata pensijilan LEED mengiktiraf pematuhan projek itu selari dengan kriteria yang digariskan dalam sistem penarafan LEED.
Industri permainan video Malaysia dijangka catat hasil AS$649 juta tahun ini
Pencapaian dalam bidang ini memerlukan usaha bersepadu daripada semua pihak berkepentingan, dalam dan luar negara.
Pemandu teksi cedera disamun empat penjenayah menyamar sebagai penumpang
Teksi jenis Proton Iswara milik mangsa berusia 72 tahun itu, turut dilarikan kumpulan penyamun tersebut, selain dompet dan barangan peribadi lain.
Tenis Terbuka Australia: Serena pamer aksi cemerlang, selesa ke pusingan ketiga
Serena Williams berjaya mengetepikan bintang Serbia, Nina Stojanovic pada Terbuka Australia untuk kemenangan 6-3, 6-0 di Melbourne Park.
Novak Djokovic muncul juara Terbuka Australia 2020
Novak Djokovic muncul juara perseorangan lelaki kejohanan tenis Terbuka Australia 2020 selepas berjaya membenam Dominic Thiem sebentar tadi.
Terbuka Australia: Thiem tempah aksi dengan Djokovic untuk takhta kejuaraan
Austria Dominic Thiem mara ke final Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama selepas tundukkan Alexander Zverev sebentar tadi.
Federer terkandas, Djokovic buru kejuaraan ke-8 Terbuka Australia
Roger Federer gagal melepasi Novak Djokovic untuk mara ke final Terbuka Australia 2020.
Terbuka Australia: Nadal layak ke suku akhir kali ke-10
Rafael Nadal bertarung bagi mendapatkan tempat ke perlawanan suku akhir Terbuka Australia selepas menundukkan Diego Schwartzman, sebentar tadi.
Terbuka Australia: Wozniacki mara ke suku akhir
Caroline Wozniacki melangkah ke suku akhir Terbuka Australia buat kali pertama sejak 2012 selepas melakar kemenangan ke atas Magdalena Rybarikova.
Djokovic doubtful for Australian Open after withdrawing from Abu Dhabi event
The 12-time grand slam winner was scheduled to kickstart the new season against Roberto Bautista Agut but was advised by his medical team to skip the tournament just hours before the match.