Djoko’s anger at chiefs
NOVAK DJOKOVIC quit Wimbledon with a parting shot at tournament organisers.
The three-time champ had to retire from his quarter-final clash with Tomas Berdych after losing his first set of the Championships.
A worsening elbow injury forced him out as he trailed 6-7 0-2 – but he said the decision to make him play on successive days did not help at all.
“I was able to perform up to this stage, but it was only getting worse,” he said. “Today was the
worst day. Probably the fact that I played yesterday – days adding up – wasn’t helping at all. Those kinds of particular circumstances don’t really help,”
Djokovic has had a hugely disappointing 12 months since losing to Sam Querrey in the third round here last year and he could now join Andy Murray as a doubt for the US Open at the end of next month.
The World No.4 said: “I have to see what needs to be done, how much time it is going to take.
“I haven’t felt this much pain ever since I’ve had this injury, so it’s not a good sign.
“It has been bothering me for a year-and-a-half, more or less, on and off.
“As long as it kind of comes and goes, it’s fine. But, obviously, adding up, maybe it worked for seven, eight, 10 months, but for the next seven months it’s not working that great.
“It’s adding up. The more I play, the worse it gets. I guess the break is something that I will have to consider right now.”
Berdych (above), the No.11 seed, will now face Roger Federer in the semi-final.