Djokovic to miss US Open tennis over injury

Serbian  Novak Djokovic is in doubt for the U.S. Open due to his elbow injury, his country’s  media reported, citing the country’s Davis Cup team doctor.

Djokovic, a former world number one,  retired hurt during the quarter-finals at Wimbledon and said he was considering taking a break from playing to recover from the long-standing injury to his right elbow.

Serbia’s Sportski Zurnal reported that the 30-year-old could face up to 12 weeks on the sidelines.

“He has a bruised bone due to excessive playing,” it quoted Zdenko Milinkovic as saying.

“Novak is in Toronto undergoing some further tests with specialists.”

The 12-times grand slam champion won the U.S. Open in 2011 and 2015.  This year’s tournament, which  begins on Aug. 28 will offer  a record $50.4 million in prizes, according to  the organizers, United States Tennis Association, USTA.

Winners of the men’s and women’s singles titles will each earn $3.7 million, while runners-up will pocket $1.825 million from the $50.4 million total pot.

The men’s and women’s doubles champion teams will each earn $675,000, also the highest in U.S. Open history.

The qualifying tournament for the season’s final grand slam will offer more than $2.9 million in prize money, a 49.2 percent increase from 2016.

“Five years ago, we committed to the players that total player compensation for players would reach $50 million at the U.S. Open, and we are honouring that commitment,” USTA President Katrina Adams said in a statement.