Hubert Hurkacz has revealed that he received advice from Novak Djokovic as the Pole is set to make his comeback in tennis.
It was at Wimbledon when Hurkacz suffered a nasty knee injury during his match with Arthur Fils as the Pole was forced to have surgery.
That meant Hurkacz’s Olympic dream was crushed before it began and he was forced to miss out in Paris.
Now having put in the work, the Pole is set to make his comeback in Montreal as he begins preparations for the US Open.
Ahead of his comeback Hurkacz revealed the advice he received from Novak Djokovic who had made a comeback from meniscus surgery himself, “Definitely just really inspiring what he did, especially winning the gold medal,” Hurkacz told the ATP website.
“I also texted Novak. He was really, really supportive and helpful as well and it just was a different situation, it was a difficult situation trying to make the decision. At the end I knew I needed to have surgery.
“I knew I couldn’t really move on the court, so the Olympics was unfortunately out of the window. I was dreaming of playing there for the whole year, but I just knew that it just was not going to be possible.
“The wounds were still not healed. I just couldn’t be going there. It was too much of a risk and also I couldn’t move on the court, so it was just not going to work.”
It proved to be a brilliant decision for Hurkacz to have surgery as he would have missed the rest of the season if he didn’t.
Now the Pole is aiming to appreciate tennis more than he did before as he looks forward to the US Open, “There are so many things we went through as a team and many difficult decisions,” Hurkacz explained to the ATP website.
“It just really makes you appreciate what you’re doing daily and sometimes you might get lost because you’re just constantly pursuing to get better, to win matches, to try to win the tournaments and win the Grand Slams.
“You don’t really appreciate the moment at some point and now I really had a moment to pause and reflect.”
Before the US Open, Hurkacz will start his comeback in Montreal where he faces Thanasi Kokkinakis.
