Long break on the cards for Djokovic

Novak Djokovic will consider taking up to six months off after retiring injured from his Wimbledon quarter-final against Tomas Berdych.

Djokovic, who was bidding to win his fourth Wimbledon title, pulled out with an elbow injury on Court One where Berdych was leading 7-6 (7/2) 2-0.

The Serbian took a medical time-out at the end of the first set but remained in visible discomfort and felt unable to continue.

Berdych goes through to face 18-time grand slam champion Roger Federer in the last four, while Djokovic will attempt to recover from an injury he said has been affecting him for “over a year and a half”.

“I never had a rest throughout my career. I had a schedule to play all the time. Maybe I will miss half a year,” Djokovic said.

That is just one option, and Djokovic added: “I guess the break is something that I will have to consider right now.

“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.”

Marin Cilic rained down 33 aces as he reached the semi-finals for the first time with a five-set win over Gilles Muller.

Croatian world No 6 Cilic showed the tenacity that may be required to take the next step into the final as he beat Rafael Nadal’s conqueror Muller 3-6 7-6 (8/6) 7-5 5-7 6-1 on Court One.

Novak Djokovic, right, with Tomas Berdych after the Serbian retired injured.