Djokovic retires hurt, Berdych advances

Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon campaign has ended after the No.2 seed was forced to retire on Wednesday due to injury.

Djokovic trailed Czech Tomas Berdych 7-6(2) 2-0 in the quarterfinals before calling it quits due to a right-arm injury.

Berdych came into the match having lost 25 of 27 matches against Djokovic; he’ll next face Roger Federer, who in his 100th match at Wimbledon scored a straight-sets victory over Milos Raonic.

“I’m not playing tennis for anyone else. I’m just playing it for myself. I’m happy with the way I handle it so far. I’m having a good run,” said Berdych after moving through to his third Wimbledon semifinal, and seventh overall at the majors.

“This is the reward (for my hard work). This is why I go to the court every day, why I go practice, why I do all the things that I have to do for my career and for my results.

“This is the best thing.”

Djokovic summoned the trainer after losing the first set, and had his right elbow and upper arm worked on.

A day earlier in his fourth-round victory over Adrian Mannarino, Djokovic had his right shoulder worked on during two medical time-outs in the third set.

“It’s not the shoulder. It’s the elbow that already keeps bothering for over a year and a half actually,” Djokovic clarified.

“It’s unfortunate that I had to finish Wimbledon, Grand Slam, this way. I mean, if someone feels bad about it, it’s me.

“But I tried. I tried what I could do from yesterday, to get it in the condition where I’m able to play. I was able maybe for 30 minutes to play with some pain that was bearable, let’s call it that way. All the treatments and medications couldn’t really help.

“The serve and forehand were the shots where I could feel it the most. Just after that there was really no sense.”

Djokovic did receive several medical timeouts for a similar issue during his run to last year’s US Open final.

Yet he revealed that the problem had never affected him this badly.

“I haven’t felt this much pain ever since I’ve had this injury. So it’s not a good sign,” he said.

“Obviously (my) schedule will be readjusted. I’m not thinking too much ahead because I’m not able, not able to play. If I’m not able to play, I can’t be thinking about any other moment except this one. I’ll try to understand everything that goes around and we’ll see where I can play next.

“To be honest, I was (considering time off). The specialists that I’ve talked with, they haven’t been really too clear, mentioning also surgery, mentioning different options. Nobody was very clear in what needs to be done.

As long as it kind of comes and goes, it’s fine. But … the (last) seven months is not working that great. Obviously it’s adding up more and more. The more I play, the worse it gets.

“I guess the break is something that I will have to consider right now.”