LONDON – Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a record-extending Grand Slam survived a tense moment at Wimbledon on Tuesday after a dramatic fall left fans at Centre Court holding their breath.
The 37-year-old Serb, who has already claimed the Wimbledon title seven times, slipped and landed hard on his hip during his quarter-final clash with Italy’s Flavio Cobolli. The fall came during the fourth set as Djokovic served for the match and missed his second match point.
He remained on the ground briefly, clutching his right hip while Cobolli fired a clean winner, before slowly getting back up. “It was a nasty fall,” Djokovic told reporters after the match. “It was very awkward… My body is not the same today like it was before.”
The match ended just two points later with Djokovic sealing the victory 6-7 (8), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, earning a spot in the semi-finals despite earlier signs of frustration and fatigue. A mistimed backhand and a failed drop shot earlier in the fourth set had momentarily shaken his rhythm.
Djokovic is scheduled to face Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, a test that now carries questions about the extent of the injury he sustained.
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