Novak Djokovic: "I'm not 100% recovered for the Australian Open"

Novak Djokovic said on Saturday that he is not fully recovered for the Australian Open, which starts on Monday, after being sidelined for six months due to an injury in his right elbow.

"I'm still not 100% recovered. But it's enough to allow me to play in competition and it will improve every day," said the Serbian during a press conference prior to the start of the first major tournament of the year.

"I'm happy to be able to play tennis again, to compete in major tournaments. I missed it," added the former number 1, currently ranked 14th in the ATP.

Djokovic has been out of the circuit since his quarterfinals exit at Wimbledon in July. He decided not to compete in Abu Dhabi at the end of December and then in Doha due to the pain in his elbow.

"I don't know how I will be during the tournament, after six months without competing, you never know how you will react," added the winner of 12 Grand Slam tournaments, six of them in Australia.

"I haven't forgotten what I'm capable of, I still believe I have the ability to beat the best in the world," he concluded.