Djokovic faces scrutiny over injuries in US Open 2nd round

Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, get medical attention during his first round match against Jerzy Janowicz, of Poland, at the US Open tennis tournament, Monday, Aug. 29, 2016, in New York. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

NEW YORK — Defending champion Novak Djokovic is ready to let his racket do the talking about how his body is holding up at this year’s U.S. Open.

Djokovic, who declined comment earlier this week about a nagging left wrist or a right arm that bothered him in a first-round win, takes on Jiri Vesely in one of Wednesday’s marquee matches in Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Vesely upset Djokovic on clay at Monte Carlo 4 1/2 months ago when the No. 1-ranked Serb was seemingly at the top of his game. But since winning the French Open, Djokovic lost in the third round of Wimbledon and in the first round at the Olympics, bothered by the left wrist. And in his first-round U.S. Open victory over Jerzy Janowicz, Djokovic winced several times before receiving treatment on his right arm and served much slower.

Also on Ashe on Wednesday and also nursing a left wrist injury is fourth-seeded Rafael Nadal, who faces Andreas Seppi.

On the women’s side, second-seeded Angelique Kerber, the Australian Open champ, meets Mirjana Lucic-Baroni. And third-seeded Garbine Muguruza, who won the FrenchOpen, faces Anastasija Sevastova.