Mubadala World Tennis Championship stars Kevin Anderson and Dominic Thiem have reacted to the news that forced 12-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic to withdraw from the season-opener in Abu Dhabi, before even taking to court.

The Serbian great, who last played at Wimbledon back in July, was forced to make the call on his fitness over his troublesome elbow injury, which meant he was unable to take to the court on Friday and face Roberto Bautista Agut in the semi-finals of the event.

And with Doha and the Australian Open on the horizon for the former World No.1, this latest setback has cast doubts over his long-term fitness.

Speaking after his straight-sets victory over Dominic Thiem to reach Saturday’s final in the UAE capital, South African Anderson said: “If you’re not really feeling healthy, as tough as it is, it’s probably better not to play. Obviously, especially someone like Novak – with his expectations and what he’s achieved in the sport.

 

“He’s looking at going into Australia, if he doesn’t feel like he can win it, then he’s probably not just wanting to be going out there just to play.”

“It’s tough, it’s his own-doing for playing so well in the past and for being such a good tennis player to have high expectations but I’m sure it’s very frustrating. I don’t know first-hand of where he’s at or what’s going on but I obviously wish him a speedy recovery.”

Following his loss to Anderson, Austrian star Thiem also commented on Djokovic, saying: “He was not a human, he was a machine, almost unbeatable (for that period), it’s normal that you can’t be like that forever, even for Novak. But, for him, I’m pretty sure that he’ll come back stronger and I think everybody hopes it’s not serious.”