LONDON: Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday when Alex de Minaur withdrew from their last-eight clash with a hip injury.
Australian ninth seed De Minaur suffered the injury in his fourth-round win over Arthur Fils and admitted on Wednesday: “I am devastated to pull out due to a hip injury”.
“It’s no secret that this would have been the biggest match of my career but it’s a unique injury,” said the 25-year-old.
“I woke up this morning wanting to feel some sort of miracle, but there was a high risk of making the injury worse if I stepped on court.
“One stretch, one slide could take this from a three to six weeks’ injury to four months out.”
Djokovic will be playing in his 13th Wimbledon semifinal and 49th at the Grand Slams.
He will face either Taylor Fritz of the US or Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti for a place in Sunday’s championship match.