Novak Djokovic's wrist injury revelation after request denied in Alex de Minaur loss

Novak Djokovic has played down a niggling right wrist injury that has plagued him at the United Cup, insisting he has time to get it right before his Australian Open defence. The World No.1 lost 6-4 6-4 to Australian Alex de Minaur in the quarter-final in Perth on Wednesday as he uncharacteristically committed a whopping 31 unforced errors and failed to create even a single break-point opportunity.

During Djokovic's match on Tuesday against Jiri Lehecka, the Serb's wrist was tended to by a physio and he needed assistance again for the same injury on Wednesday but his request for an official medical timeout denied. In a heated back-and-forth with the trainer, he was informed that he could only receive treatment during the changeovers as it wasn't a new issue.

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"What are you talking about, it’s the injury you treated yesterday?" Djokovic told the trainer. The 24-time grand slam champion went on to explain that the injury had improved after the match on Tuesday but worsened as he began playing again.

"So the logic in that, if it continues getting worse the next day you won’t treat it because it has already been recurring yesterday?" Djokovic quizzed. "I said it had improved before the match and when I started playing and the more I’m playing, it’s getting worse. That’s what I told you."

As the physio left the court commentator Jim Courier said Djokovic would not be happy with not receiving the treatment he requested. "It kind of came into the conversation after it started. I’m not sure if he was asking to receive a medical time out and the trainer said no it’s not a new injury we can't give you one," he said.

John Alexander questions whether the wrist injury even exists

Former Australian tennis player John Alexander said Djokovic has routinely taken advantage of medical time-outs in the past and called for a rule change to make it harder for players to abuse the rules. His call came after Djokovic went on to beat Jiri Lehecka 6-1 6-7 (3) 6-1 on Tuesday after taking a medical timeout after losing the second set.

"I think when players so routinely are taking advantage of these rules and so obviously using them strategically to have an advantage tactically over their opponent, these rules need to be looked at a little bit more," Alexander told the ABC Tennis Podcast. "The injury timeouts — if there is a question mark over his greatness in his entire career, it's the way he has, in many people's minds, strategically used injury timeouts.

"After the loss of the second set, take an injury timeout to have his wrist massaged for some five minutes, breaking the opponent's concentration, maybe having thoughts entering into his opponent's head 'gee maybe he'll default, I'm all over for the night'.

"Then he picks himself up, wins the next five games, wins that third set 6-1. I have to say at this point I agree with many of my friends who say if they don't see blood they don't believe there's an injury."

Djokovic plays down injury concerns ahead of Australian Open

Djokovic is confident his wrist injury won't hinder his chances at an unprecedented 11th Australian Open crown. "I have enough time to get myself in the right shape for the Australian Open, and that's what matters the most at this point," Djokovic said.

"I think I'll be okay, to be honest. I knew that I probably wasn't going to be at my 100 per cent physically, emotionally, mentally, game-wise in the opening week of a season.

"Neither did I expect that. Neither did I want that, to be honest. It's all a part of the build-up for the Australian Open. That's where I want to perform at my best. So again, it's never nice to lose a match, of course, but it's not really going to stay with me much."

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