The title defence of defending US Open Champion Novak Djokovic came to a sad end on Sunday night after he was forced to retire hurt due to a shoulder injury in his fourth-round game against Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland. This is the first time since 2006 that Djokovic is losing a match at the US Open before the quarter-final stage.
Djokovic had carried his injury into the tournament. In his second-round match against Juan Ignacio Londero on Wednesday, Djokovic experienced pain due to the injury, but still managed to win in three sets.
On Sunday, Djokovic was trailing 4-6, 5-7, 1-2 against Wawrinka, when he decided to retire hurt. Djokovic had to seek medical attention after losing the second set, with his trainer massaging his shoulder. Wawrinka drew Djokovic into baseline rallies, forcing errors from the 16-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic's decision to retire was received with boos by the audience at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Wawrinka will now play Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the quarter-final on Tuesday. Wawrinka sympathised with Djokovic, noting, “"It's never the way you want to finish a match. I am really sorry for Novak, he's an amazing friend."
Djokovic has won four of the past five Grand Slams. In the only tournament he failed to win—the French Open this year—Djokovic reached the seminal. Speaking after the match, Djokovic said, "It is frustrating. Very frustrating. Obviously not the first, not the last player to get injured and to withdraw from one of the biggest events in sport. But obviously I just came off the court, so, of course, it hurts."
