Reigning champion Novak Djokovic bows out in the fourth round of the US Open 2019 after retiring hurt at 4-6, 5-7, 1-2 against Stan Wawrinka at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Saturday night.
The Swiss was leading two sets and a break up in the third set when the 16-time Grand Slam champion stopped due to a shoulder injury. This is for the 6th time the Novak Djokovic retires at a Grand Slam event and 13th time overall on the ATP Tour.
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Earlier, the Serb battled through a shoulder injury in his second-round win over Juan Ignacio Londero but appeared to suggest his condition has improved after a third-round win over Denis Kudla as he said he felt “almost pain-free”.
Novak Djokovic, who has won four of the past five Grand Slam events received treatment on his troublesome left shoulder before the start of the third set of the match. Subsequently, the vocal crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium got excited as the world No.1 received boos, mixed with gathering cheers following his retirement from the match.
via Imago
Novak Djokovic
“I am not being offended. I don’t want to talk about my injuries. I’ve said that in the past. I am sticking to that, Novak Djokovic told reporters on Saturday.
Stan Wawrinka, who his bidding for his fourth Grand Slam title will next face the Russian Daniil Medvedev who beat German qualifier Dominik Koepfer to reach his first Grand Slam quarterfinals at the US Open 2019.
“It’s never the way you want to finish the match,” Wawrinka told the crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium. “I’m really sorry for Novak. He’s a good friend, amazing champion.”
Wawrinka further added, “It’s been really tough since my surgery. It took me two years now to be back at that level. “I want to keep my level of tonight. I think I was playing super good tennis. I’m happy to be back”.
Stan Wawrinka is one set away from beating Novak Djokovic again at the #USOpen.
Leads 6-4, 7-5 on Ashe, from 1-4 down in the 2nd…
The #1 is looking flat and in big troubles.
[getty] pic.twitter.com/Ck5rFIgxCS— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 2, 2019
Unfortunately, Novak Djokovic has been forced to retire due to injury.
🇨🇭 @stanwawrinka prevails 6-4, 7-5, 2-1. | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/8sBFTEIkBG
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 2, 2019
Typical Novak quitting when he knows he's beat.
— Chris Jackson (@CJSports603) September 2, 2019
Wow.
What even was that crowd reaction?
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) September 2, 2019
Defending US Open champion Novak Djokovic, who was battling a left shoulder injury, retires in the third set of his match with Stan Wawrinka.
Wawrinka advances to the quarterfinals. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/WXbhxo712E
— ESPN (@espn) September 2, 2019
Novak Djokovic hasn't practiced for the last 4 days in a Grand Slam. When has he ever done that? How dare people say he is faking? How dare they boo an injured champion?
Shameful behaviour from crowd and commentators.@JoseLuisClerc #TENISxESPN
— Yolita🐊 (@Yolitatennis) September 2, 2019
After retiring against Stan Wawrinka Novak Djokovic is booed by tennis fans in New York at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Harsh. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/kakrRWm2Q7
— Omar Moore (@thepopcornreel) September 2, 2019
Respect between two US Open champions 🤗
🎥: @usopen | @DjokerNole @stanwawrinka | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/Cwt9SQ2hZ5
— ATP Tour (@atptour) September 2, 2019
Stan has some intense fans 🧑🖊️@stanwawrinka | #USOpen pic.twitter.com/H6JxmPCN8h
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 2, 2019
Crowd booing Djokovic as he leaves the court after retiring.
Poor form.
— Matthew Willis (@MattRacquet) September 2, 2019
16-time major champion, maybe the greatest player of all time, did not deserve that.
— Full Dissident (@hbryant42) September 2, 2019
Federer nor Nadal would have never been booed off the court. Just completely classless.
— Nick Nemeroff (@NNemeroff) September 2, 2019
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This is Novak’s first retirement in more than three years, and if you look at his record, he has only retired a few times in the last decade. This man is not a quitter.
A pretty classless reaction from the tough New York crowd to boo the three-time #USOpen champion tonight. https://t.co/iSPXc6gVuO
— Max Gao (@MaxJGao) September 2, 2019
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