Novak Djokovic dismisses injury concern ahead of Kei Nishikori clash

World number one men’s player Novak Djokovic brushed off injury concerns ahead of his quarter-final showdown against Kei Nishikori following a heavy fall on Rod Laver Arena on Monday night.

Novak Djokovic hit the deck against Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

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World number one men’s player Novak Djokovic brushed off injury concerns ahead of his quarter-final showdown against Kei Nishikori on Wednesday following a heavy fall in the third set on Rod Laver Arena late on Monday night.

Appearing at the post match press conference in the early hours of Tuesday morning, he told the waiting media he had not felt at his best in the last 20 minutes of the four set win over Daniil Medvedev.

“We’ll see how the body reacts, but I’m confident I can recover and be ready for the next one,” Djokovic said.

Novak Djokovic hit the deck against Daniil Medvedev in the fourth round. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

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“It was not particularly the fall. It was just a little bit of fatigue, a little bit of back, nothing major. But there are a couple of things that have surfaced after a match like this.”

The battle with Medvedev had been “physically exhausting” the six times Australian Open champion said and he expects a similar contest against Nishikori, who took five hours to overcome Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta also on Monday night.

“Kei won another marathon match. He’s a fighter, he’s a very talented player, one of the quickest players on the tour” Djokovic said.

Djokovic says he’ll be fit and ready to go for his quarter-final clash. (AAP Image/Mast Irham)

“I have lots of respect for him. We did play here several times. Every year is different, every match that you play against each other is different so I expect him obviously to come out, to try something new.”

Nishkori, the eighth seed, will not be overjoyed to face Djokovic, the Serb holding a 15-2 career lead, the Japanese player’s last win coming at the US Open in 2014.

Indeed Djokovic dismissed Nishikori at the last eight stage here three years ago for the loss of just eight games.

Djokovic faces Japan’s Kei Nishikori for a place in the semi-final. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

In the unlikely event the match should proceed to the new, final set super tie-break (first to 10 points) neither player will be unhappy, Nishikori already ending two of his four matches here to-date by the shortened route.

Djokovic welcomed the innovation.

“I don’t mind it personally. I’m more in favour of closing out the match in a tiebreak or super-tiebreak rather than going for 11 hours like Isner and Mahut (11 hours at Wimbledon in 2010).”

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