Wimbledon - Djokovic into the semi-finals without a fight - de Minaur injured
Novak Djokovic advances to Wimbledon semifinals without contest as Alex de Minaur withdraws due to hip injury
The 37-year-old Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals at Wimbledon without playing a match. De Minaur, a 25-year-old Australian, had to withdraw from the significant grass-court Grand Slam tournament due to a hip injury.
"I didn't want to make this announcement, I'm devastated on the inside," said the ninth-ranked Djokovic. He sustained the injury at the end of his quarterfinal match against Frenchman Arthur Fils. De Minaur reported that he would likely miss three to six weeks and risked a more extended break with another match. A start at the Paris Olympics, which begin at the end of July, is now unlikely for de Minaur.
Djokovic aims for eighth Wimbledon title
Djokovic reached his 13th Wimbledon semifinal and equaled a record held by Swiss Roger Federer. With another victory in the final and a potential eighth triumph at the Wimbledon championships in Southwest London, Djokovic could also tie Federer for the most Wimbledon titles.
In the semifinals on Friday, Djokovic will face the winner of the quarterfinal match between American Taylor Fritz and Italian Lorenzo Musetti. In the other semifinal, Spanish title defender Carlos Alcaraz and former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev from Russia will square off.
Doubts surrounded Djokovic at the beginning of the tournament. Just a month ago, the winner of 24 Grand Slam titles underwent knee surgery after getting injured at the French Open. Djokovic still needs two more victories to reach his 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic, despite his hip injury sustained during the quarterfinals, maintains his pursuit of the title in the upcoming International Tennis Federation (ITF) Grand Slam tournament, Wimbledon, held in London, England. The Serbian tennis ace has expressed his desire to contest in the tournament, even though his participation in this year's Paris Olympics seems uncertain due to de Minaur's withdrawal. Novak Djokovic, a formidable competitor in Tennis, has twice defeated Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in Wimbledon semifinals, showcasing his dominance on the lawn.
