Djokovic hopes injury not serious after fall

London

Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, had a scary moment during his Wimbledon quarterfinal match against Flavio Cobolli. Djokovic slipped on the grass and fell hard while trying to change direction in the fourth set. The fall looked painful as he landed in a split position.

At the score of 5-4, 40/30, Djokovic stayed down for a moment while the umpire and Cobolli checked on him. He soon got up and stretched his left leg, receiving applause from the crowd. Despite the fall, Djokovic quickly recovered and won the match 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4.

After the match, Djokovic said the fall was "nasty" and awkward but added that such slips happen on grass courts. The 38-year-old said his body is not as strong as before, so he might feel the full effect of the fall later. “I’m hoping in the next 24 to 48 hours the severity is not too bad,” he said, expressing hope to play pain-free in his upcoming semifinal against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

With his win, Djokovic moved closer to a record 25th major title. If he wins Wimbledon, he will match Federer’s record of eight titles at the event and become the oldest champion in the Open Era. Djokovic praised his team for helping him stay fit despite the challenges at his age.