By Dwayne Ferreira
Novak Djokovic advanced to the semifinals of Wimbledon after Alex de Minaur withdrew from their quarterfinal match due to a hip injury. The Australian ninth seed was scheduled to face the 24-time Grand Slam champion in the second match on Centre Court on Wednesday. With de Minaur’s withdrawal, Djokovic received a walkover and will now face Lorenzo Musetti on Friday as he aims to reach the final for the sixth time in seven years.
This development aids Djokovic’s pursuit of his eighth Wimbledon title, which would see him equal Roger Federer’s record. By reaching the semifinals, Djokovic has now matched Federer’s Open era record of 13 Wimbledon semifinal appearances. Despite undergoing knee surgery just three weeks before the tournament, Djokovic has displayed excellent form at SW19.
Djokovic’s path to the semifinals included a dominant performance against 15th seed Holger Rune in the quarterfinals. His current run of form and resilience following recent surgery highlight his determination and capability to contend for yet another Grand Slam title. As he prepares to face Musetti, Djokovic’s experience and skill will be crucial in his bid to add to his impressive Wimbledon legacy.
