London, England – Alex de Minaur’s dream of reaching his first Wimbledon quarterfinal was shattered on Monday when he suffered a hip injury during his fourth-round match. The Australian player, aged 25, was forced to withdraw from his upcoming quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic after the extent of his injury was confirmed.
De Minaur, seeded ninth in the tournament, was devastated to learn that he had a tear in his hip cartilage, ultimately granting Djokovic a pass into the semifinals. Djokovic, at 37 years old, now eagerly awaits to face either Taylor Fritz or Lorenzo Musetti in the next round.
Despite this setback, De Minaur has shown great promise this season, having previously reached the quarterfinals of the French Open and excelling in a clay-court tournament in Monte Carlo. Unfortunately, he now joins a list of players who have had to retire or withdraw from Wimbledon due to injuries, such as Aryna Sabalenka, Madison Keys, and Grigor Dimitrov.
In contrast to De Minaur’s misfortune, Djokovic seems to be in excellent form and health. Despite having knee surgery on June 5, Djokovic remains focused on the possibility of matching Roger Federer’s eight Wimbledon championships and securing his 25th Grand Slam title, a feat that would make history in the world of tennis. Currently tied with Margaret Court for the most major titles won, Djokovic is on a mission to carve his own place in tennis history.
The Wimbledon tournament continues to showcase the unpredictability and challenges that players face, with injuries often playing a pivotal role in determining the outcomes of matches. As the second week of Wimbledon progresses, fans eagerly anticipate the thrilling matches and unexpected twists that are sure to unfold on the iconic grass courts of the All England Club.