After having further pushed the limits of tennis this Saturday by winning his 400th Grand Slam match, Novak Djokovic completed an additional round this Sunday morning, without playing. The Czech Jakub Mensik is out with an abdominal injury.
After a victory in three sets against the Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp (6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4)), the world number 4 continues to impress at 39 years old. Not far from disqualification after a gesture of humor during this third round, he will find himself playing against the winner of the nice duel between Taylor Fritz and Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-final next Tuesday.
In the first part of the table, the first quarter-finals are known. Carlos Alcaraz defeated Tommy Paul and will face Alex De Minaur. For his part, Daniil Medvedev was no match for Learner Tien. The American will face world number 3 Alexander Zverev, quick against Cerundolo (6-2, 6-4, 6-4).
“I am obviously very sad”
“It’s an unfortunate decision to make. After the last two matches, I had more and more pain and the problem came from the left side of my abdominal muscles,” explains the 17th player in the world in statements sent by the tournament organization.
“Entering the court tomorrow (Monday) would be taking too big a risk for the following weeks, for my next tournaments and simply for my health,” he adds.
“The fact that my round of 16 was against Novak in the Rod Laver Arena makes (this package) even more saddening. I am obviously very sad not to step onto the court to face my idol, the GOAT,” he continues.
“Reaching the round of 16, the second week of a Grand Slam tournament, for the first time, is something I won’t forget, obviously,” concludes the 20-year-old.
He was playing his ninth Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne this year and had never gone beyond the third round.
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