LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic walked into the men's singles semifinals here on Wednesday as Alex de Minaur announced a walkover hours before the match.
The Australian No. 9 seed De Minaur didn't celebrate after winning his fourth-round match against Frenchman Arthur Fils and looked solemn while walking slowly to the net.
"I am devastated to pull out due to a hip injury, a little tear of the fibre cartilage that kind of is at the end of or connects to the adductor," said De Minaur in a statement released earlier on Wednesday.
"I felt a loud crack during the last three points of my match against Fils and got a scan yesterday and it confirmed that this was the injury and with a high risk of making it worse if I was to step on court."
The seven-time Wimbledon champion Djokovic then progressed into the semifinals at the All England Club for a 13th time, waiting to face the winner between Italian Lorenzo Musetti and American Taylor Fritz. ■
