Djokovic into Wimbledon semifinal due to De Minaur injury

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic serves the ball to Denmark’s Holger Rune during their men’s singles tennis match on the eighth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8, 2024. (Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP)

Seven-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon semifinal 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 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.

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“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 semi-final and 49th at the Grand Slams.

He will face either Taylor Fritz of the United States or Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti for a place in Sunday’s championship match.