Novak Djokovic into Wimbledon semifinals without playing QF match as "devastated" opponent Alex de Minaur withdraws due to injury
Novak Djokovic has advanced to the semifinals of Wimbledon 2024 through a walkover. The Serb’s opponent, Alex de Minaur, announced his withdrawal just hours before their quarterfinal match.
Djokovic was set to face World No. 9 de Minaur on Centre Court on Wednesday, July 10, but the Aussie’s hopes of making his maiden Grand Slam semifinal were crushed by the hip injury he sustained in his previous match against France’s Arthur Fils.
Alex de Minaur won his fourth-round encounter against Fils 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, looking rather dominant for the most part. However, in the final moments, the Aussie bore a worried look, despite getting the job done. He had a slight limp as he walked toward the net to shake hands with his opponent.
In the post-match press conference, de Minaur brushed off the potential injury as a “scare more than anything.” However, after getting a scan, the 25-year-old announced on Wednesday that he suffered a tear in his fiber cartilage, forcing him to pull out of his match against Novak Djokovic.
Alex de Minaur said that he was “devastated” by the development.
"I’m devastated but I had to pull out due to hip injury. A little tear of the fiber cartilage that connects to the adductor. I felt a loud crack during the last three points pf my match against Fils," he said in his press conference announcing the withdrawal.
This means Novak Djokovic is into his 13th semifinal at Wimbledon, equaling eight-time champion Roger Federer’s record. This is also his 49th Grand Slam semifinal overall. He is chasing a historic 25th Major and eighth at the event, having fallen short in last year's final against Carlos Alcaraz.
The Serb, who recently underwent knee surgery after getting injured at the French Open, beat the likes of Vit Kopriva, Jacob Fearnley, Alexei Popyrin, and Holger Rune in his previous matches. He awaits the winner between Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti for a spot in the final.
"It was the biggest match of my career" - Alex de Minaur after withdrawing against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon
During the aforementioned press conference, Alex de Minaur noted that he did “anything he could” to be ready for his Wimbledon match against Novak Djokovic.
The Aussie, who made the quarterfinals at SW19 for the first time, called it “the biggest match of his career.” He previously made the final eight at the 2024 French Open and the 2020 US Open and was bidding for his maiden Grand Slam semifinal against the World No. 2.
"[There was a] high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court," he said in his press conference.
"It was no secret that at this stage of my career it was the biggest match of my career. So I wanted to do anything I could to play. I knew what the results were yesterday, but I still wanted to wake up today hoping that I would feel some sort of miracle and not feel it whilst I’m walking," he added.
Alex de Minaur recently won his second grasscourt title at the Libema Open and was thus hoping to make a deep run at Wimbledon 2024. He also secured his first-ever win against Djokovic earlier this year at the United Cup.