Novak Djokovic admitted that he is managing an “odd” right forearm problem after grinding his way into the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells for the first time since 2017.
The five-time champion has needed three sets in both of his opening matches at the ATP Masters 1000 event and has been wearing a compression sleeve on his right arm while navigating the early rounds. Despite the physical concern, the 38-year-old Serbian has continued to find solutions on court, most recently battling past Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 on Monday.
“I’ve been struggling the last couple of weeks with that forearm and trying to go through it,” Djokovic told Tennis Channel after his third-round win. “It’s a bit odd: The more I serve, the better I feel, but then it comes on and off if I get cold.
“If I don’t serve for five or six minutes then I feel like the first couple of serves of that game are a bit painful. I’m working through it. It’s not something I haven’t faced before. It’s the ins and outs of being a tennis player at this level, but overall the body is feeling okay. Hopefully it’s going to get better every day.”
