Novak Djokovic faces uncertain future after struggling in year of pain | Kevin Mitchell

Laid low by a chronic elbow injury, the former world No1 must rebuild his game like Roger Federer to have hope of climbing back to the top

Fading in recollections of Roger Federer’s barely believable progress to his 19th major at the start of the year is a 35-shot rally in the fourth round of the Australian Open between the bristling Hyeon Chung and the genius who had flickeringly in the past consigned the Swiss to the margins of greatness, Novak Djokovic.

It was the most memorable exchange of the season’s first slam, a confection of exquisite skill by the Serb and the 21-year-old South Korean prodigy, who would then snuff out the challenge of Tennys Sandgren but could do little to resist Federer near his imperious best in the penultimate round of the fortnight. Youth had head-butted the champions, and, for the time being, had been repelled by its oldest warrior.

Continue reading...

from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2FqrpE2