Didn’t agree with all the referee’s decisions: Novak Djokovic Bild: EPA
Serbian tennis star Djokovic loses the quarterfinals in Rome. Painkillers don’t help either. His longtime competitor Nadal is also struggling.
After the top Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic also retired early from the Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Rome. The top-seeded defending champion from Serbia lost in the quarter-finals on Wednesday to number seven Dane Holger Rune 2-6, 6-4, 2-6. His opponent in the semifinals will be the Norwegian Casper Ruud, who defeated the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo 7:6 (7:5), 6:4. The 31-year-old Yannick Hanfmann from Karlsruhe can also move into the semifinals with a win on Thursday against Zverev conqueror Daniil Medvedev from Russia.
The only 20-year-old Rune had already triumphed against 35-year-old Djokovic in November in the final of the Masters 1000 indoor tournament in Paris. Djokovic was apparently not physically fit, in the middle of the second set he had to take a painkiller. However, Rune also took an injury break after leg problems.
Djokovic, who will lose his leading position in the world rankings to Alcaraz next week, struggled with back problems from the start. He found the game difficult and gave up the first set after 38 minutes without a chance. He then reared up again, but had to admit defeat after 2:19 hours.
The day before, Djokovic had reached the quarter-finals in the Foro Italico for the 17th time in a row with a two-set win (6: 3, 6: 4) against British Cameron Norrie. He was only briefly upset once when the Briton smashed his leg.
The Serb missed another prestigious tournament success before the highlight of the clay court season at the French Open (May 28 to June 11). In Paris, with his 23rd title, he wants to become the sole Grand Slam record champion.
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His rival Rafael Nadal of Spain is yet to play at the French Open due to a persistent hip flexor injury. The ailing tournament record champion wants to provide information on Thursday. The 36-year-old Spaniard announced a press conference at his academy in Mallorca for the afternoon (4 p.m.). “Marca” already reported on Wednesday evening that the 14-time tournament winner will not compete in Paris.
2023-05-17 16:03:37
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