Andy Roddick believes Novak Djokovic's age and injury make recovery a difficult journey

Former world number one Andy Roddick believes that it will not be easy to see Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic will not be able to return to the court after a recent injury in the near future.

The 37-year-old is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic is having a difficult campaign. He has yet to play in the final of any event. His streak extended even further after he was forced to withdraw from the ongoing French Open just before the start of the quarterfinal against Norway’s Casper Ruud because of a Knee injury.

It was later announced that the Belgrade-born star had undergone surgery, which is likely to ruled him out of the upcoming Wimbledon and Paris Olympics as well.

Roddick, who won one Grand Slam in his career, was quoted in a report by Tennis 365 where he suggesting that it will be hard for the legendary tennis star to return to full fitness easily because of his age and the nature of the injury.

“He has had surgery and a lot will depend on how bad the tear is,” he said. “When I was 17, I tore my meniscus, obviously that is a younger body and played on it for like four or five months.

“Did it again a few months back and I just rested up, but the difference is I don’t have to play Wimbledon in a month.

“This surgery, at least based on every kind I’ve seen and including my own, puts the Olympics out and puts Wimbledon seriously at risk.

“It’s not just a case of saying my knee is okay in a month because you have to train and especially Novak.

“Your special sauce is being able to grind people down, stay in rallies, move people from side to side and ask the question over and over again.

“Novak needs his wheels. He needs his defensive skills. He is probably the best defensive player in the history of tennis and with defence, you rely on your legs.”

Before getting injured, Djokovic was involved in two five-setters. The reigning world number one first defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in the third round at the Roland Garros with a score of 7-5, 6-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. That game ended at three in the morning, the latest any game finished in the history of a Grand Slam.

After that, Djokovic defeated Francisco Cerundolo in the fourth round with a score of 6-1, 5-7, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.