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Novak Djokovic updated fans on his physical condition after a worrying fall during his Wimbledon quarterfinal and looked towards facing top seed Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic has issued an update on his physical condition after a worrying fall in the final phase of his Wimbledon quarter-final win against Italy's Flavio Cabolli.
Seven-time champion Djokovic set up a mouth-watering semi-final clash against world No 1 Jannik Sinner with a 6-7(6), 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 win against Cabollu that fired him into his 14th Wimbledon semi-final.
Djokovic's enduring brilliance and fighting qualities were on display against an impressive Cobolli, who pushed the Serbian great with a power-packed serving display.
Yet the biggest concern for Djokovic came on match point, as he slipped in alarming fashion and fell to the floor in pain.
Djokovic's wife Jelena was among those looking on with concern, but the 38-year-old dragged himself off the turf to win the next two points and win the match.
Now he will wait to see how his ageing body responds to the fall, with Djokovic conceding he will need to work with his medical team to give himself a chance to be in good condition to face Sinner on Friday.
"It was a nasty fall. It was very awkward. That happens on the grass," said Djokovic.
"I've had quite a few of those throughout my grass court career. Obviously, body is not the same today like it was before, so I guess the real impact or effect of what happened I will feel tomorrow. So let's see.
"I'm hoping the next 24, 48 hours that the severity of what was happening on the court and what happened is not too bad, that I'll be able to play at my best and free of pain in two days."
Djokovic will get a chance to avenge his French Open semi-final defeat against Sinner when they meet again on Friday and he is relishing the challenge.
"I lost straight sets to Jannik in the semis of Roland Garros," he reflected. "I think I played a solid match. I could have played better, but he was just better player when the moments were important.
"So I get another opportunity. For me, this is what counts actually the most. Being in the last stages of Grand Slams and playing against the best player in the world right now. Him next to Alcaraz are the leaders of the tennis today, men's tennis.
"Yeah, couldn't ask for a bigger challenge, for sure, for myself. I look forward to it. I'll do my best to get ready and perform my best there.
"I don't expect anything, to be honest. I just try to focus on my recovery right now, getting my body in shape for very physical battle. Hopefully I can deliver the level and be able to stay with him for potentially five sets, because it's going to take the best of me at the moment to beat Jannik.
"I mean, I know that. So that's the only thing I'm thinking about right now, just getting myself physically and mentally in the right state so I can fight with him for as long as it's necessary."
Sinner holds a 5-4 lead over Djokovic in their head-to-head meetings and he has won their last five matches, including that impressive win in Paris a few weeks ago.
