Australian tennis star Alex De Minaur’s Wimbledon dreams came crashing down Wednesday after withdrawing from his quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic due to a hip injury. The ninth seed revealed a 'little tear' in his adductor cartilage sustained during his fourth-round victory – ending hopes of a rematch with the Serbian legend.
'I felt a loud crack during those final points,' said the 25-year-old, who’d stunned Djokovic earlier this year at the United Cup. Medical scans confirmed the high-risk injury could worsen dramatically if he played. 'Devastated doesn’t cover it,' De Minaur added, now racing against time to recover for the Paris Olympics.
The walkover propels Djokovic into his 13th Wimbledon semifinal – tying Roger Federer’s record. The seven-time champ, chasing Federer’s eight-title crown, now faces Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in what promises to be a *chef’s kiss* showdown. Musetti outlasted Taylor Fritz in an epic 5-set battle featuring 42 aces and 68 winners!
While Djokovic eyes history, fans mourn what could’ve been a blockbuster rematch. As one Twitter user put it: 'Tennis gods really said NOT TODAY.' Will De Minaur recover in time for Roland Garros’ Olympic event? Stay tuned.
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Injured De Minaur pulls out of quarterfinal with Djokovic at Wimbledon
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