Novak Djokovic will miss rest of 2017 season due to injury

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic announced on Wednesday morning that he will not play the rest of 2017, meaning he’ll miss the U.S. Open and end his streak of participating in 51 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments.

“I have made a decision to not play any competitions or tournaments for the rest of 2017,” Djokovic said on a Facebook Live broadcast.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion has been hampered by a lingering right elbow injury and bowed out of his Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Tomas Berdych.

Until now, Djokovic has never missed a major tournament since he entered his first, the 2005 Australian Open. That is the third-longest active run among men and seventh longest in history.

Djokovic, the former world No. 1, said in a statement on his website that his decision came as a result of medical advice. He also cited more time with his family.

“All the doctors I’ve consulted, and all the specialists I have visited, in Serbia and all over the world, have agreed that this injury requires rest,” he said. “A prolonged break from the sport is inevitable. I’ll do whatever it takes to recover. …My wife, Jelena, and I are expecting our second child, and we are preparing to welcome a new family member. These are things that fill me with greatest happiness and delight. I’m confident I will be ready for start of the new season."

Djokovic also announced that mentor Andre Agassi has remained a part of his team.

“It is the most important for me to recover, to be able to play injury-free for as long as possible, to compete in the sport that has given me so much, the sport I love. Of course I want to return to the winning form, to win again, to win the trophies. But now it is not the time to talk about it. At this point, I’m focusing on recovery.”

More:Venus Williams gets right back on court after loss in Wimbledon finals

More:Dad of former tennis star Mark Philippoussis arrested on sexual abuse charges