Alex de Minaur's hip injury forces him to withdraw from quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic, sending Djokovic into the semifinals for the 13th time at Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic has reached the semifinals of Wimbledon without even swinging his racket, as Alex de Minaur withdrew from their quarterfinal clash due to a hip injury.
The Australian made the unfortunate announcement during a press conference on Wednesday, revealing that a hip injury had forced his hand.
Novak Djokovic Earns Semifinal Berth at Wimbledon Without a Fight
"Obviously not an announcement I wanted to make by any means," de Minaur told the media. "I'm devastated, but I had to pull out due to a hip injury — a little tear of the fiber cartilage that connects to the abductor."
De Minaur said he sustained the injury during his Round of 16 match against Arthur Fils on Monday, noting that he felt a "loud crack" during the final three points of the match.
Novak Djokovic Earns Semifinal Berth at Wimbledon Without a Fight
"It’s no secret that this, at this stage of my career, was the biggest match of my career."
"The problem with me going out and playing is that one stretch, one slide, one anything, can make this injury (recovery) go from three to six weeks to four months," he added. "It’s too much to risk."
Novak Djokovic Earns Semifinal Berth at Wimbledon Without a Fight
Djokovic, who has undergone knee surgery less than a month before Wimbledon, is now through to his 13th semifinal appearance at the All England Club, equaling Roger Federer's record for the most semifinal appearances by a man in tournament history.
He will face Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, who is appearing in his first Grand Slam semifinal after defeating Taylor Fritz.
"He probably knows better than me the surface and the stadium, for sure," Musetti joked of his opponent during an on-court interview after the match.
The withdrawal not only gives Djokovic a break but also raises questions about his knee injury. Despite the setback, the 37-year-old has dropped only two sets so far and appears to be in good form.
The semifinal clash between Djokovic and Musetti is expected to be a thrilling encounter, with both players eager to reach the final. Djokovic will be aiming to extend his Wimbledon dominance, while Musetti will be looking to make history and become the first Italian man to reach a Grand Slam final since Adriano Panatta in 1976.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
