De Minaur’s dream Wimbledon run over, Olympics campaign in doubt

Alex de Minaur’s dream Wimbledon run is over, with the Sydneysider now in a race against the clock to be fit and firing for the Paris Olympics in a fortnight.

Australia's Alex de Minaur reacts after winning against France's Arthur Fils during their men's singles fourth round tennis match on the eighth day of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 8, 2024. De Minaur won the match 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE

Alex de Minaur’s dream Wimbledon run is over.

The Aussie, who has strengthened his spot in the world’s top 10, has withdrawn from his quarter final match with Novak Djokovic after he succumbed to a hip injury.

De Minaur outlasted Frenchman Arthur Fils 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-3 in an exciting fourth round clash, but as he closed out the match pulled up hurt.

A de Minaur masterclass 👿

The Australian reaches the last eight at #Wimbledon for the first time, defeating Arthur Fils 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 with a dazzling display of grass court tennis 🎾 pic.twitter.com/1ElcXEXFCK

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 8, 2024

He indicated to his box that it was his hip, as some speculated it was his back, and he walked gingerly to the net to meet Fils.

“Have to pull out due to a hip injury, a tear of the cartilage that connect to the adductors,” de Minaur said.

“I felt a crack during the last three points.

“Had a scan and it confirmed it was the injury with high risk of making it worse.”

Australia's Alex de Minaur reacts after his win against France's Arthur Fils. Picture: AFP

He was in a race against the clock to be fit for a clash with the last of the modern era’s big four in Djokovic, but three hours before their scheduled start time, word filtered through that he was out.

It was a heartbreaking but necessary call for de Minaur, who reached the final eight for the first time in his career.

“At this stage of my career, it was the biggest match of my career. I wanted to do everything possible to play,” De Minaur said.

“One stretch or one slide can make this injury go from three to six weeks to four months so it’s way too risky.”

Those comments make a heartbreaking contrast with his earlier post celebrating his historic run to the quarter finals.

“All the feels. Newest last eight club member,” it read, with a demon emoji.

All the feels. Newest last 🎱 club member 😈 @Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/XRBdenGNhy

— alex de minaur (@alexdeminaur) July 8, 2024

De Minaur defeated 24-time Grand Slam title winner Djokovic at the United Cup in Australia earlier this year.

He arrived at Wimbledon in superb form, having made the quarter-finals at the French Open and with a grass-court title at ‘s-Hertogenbosh under his belt.

Djokovic, meanwhile, becomes only the third man in the Open Era to reach the semi-finals at Wimbledon aged 37 or older after Ken Rosewall and Federer.

The Serb has also been under an injury cloud having undergone knee surgery after the French Open.

Djokovic advances directly to the semi final for a record-equalling 13th time at Wimbledon, where the world No.2 will await the winner of No.25 seed Lorenzo Musetti and No.13 seed Taylor Fritz.

It ends de Minaur’s outstanding run at Wimbledon, and he’ll now start a new race for fitness for the Paris Games, which start in a fortnight.

Originally published as De Minaur’s dream Wimbledon run over, Olympics campaign in doubt