Novak Djokovic was forced to retire from his semifinal match against Taylor Fritz at the Six Kings Slam in Riyadh on Saturday after an exhausting opening set left him unable to continue.
The exhibition tournament, featuring several of the sport’s top stars, was meant to be a lighthearted showcase before the close of the year.
Yet Djokovic, ever the competitor, treated it like any major contest. The 38-year-old battled through a punishing 75-minute first set that ended in a 7-4 tiebreak loss to Fritz. Shortly after, he informed officials that he could not play on, appearing to struggle with a problem in his left leg.
When the match ended, Djokovic approached the net to shake hands with his opponent before addressing the crowd in Riyadh.
“I want to apologise to everybody, sorry guys, I’m sorry you couldn’t see the second set,” Novak Djokovic said. “But credit to Taylor [laughs], I mean, we had some incredible games towards the end of that set, and it was one of the longest sets I’ve ever played, to be honest.”
A rare retirement for the game’s fiercest competitor
Djokovic‘s withdrawal marked a rare sight for fans accustomed to seeing him grind through adversity. Those in attendance noted that he appeared to have emptied his tank in the lengthy first set, moving slower toward the end and wincing between points.
The decision to stop likely reflected caution more than surrender-Djokovic‘s acknowledgment that with no ranking points or titles on the line, there was little reason to risk aggravating an injury.
This latest physical setback comes after a stretch of fitness concerns in recent months. During the Shanghai Masters earlier in the fall, he appeared to roll his ankle in a win over Jaume Munar, later showing signs of discomfort in a semifinal defeat to eventual champion Valentin Vacherot.
The strain seemed to linger, and Djokovic admitted before arriving in Saudi Arabia that he was still managing “some issues” with his body.
Even so, the Six Kings Slam gave fans a glimpse of his trademark fight. Against Fritz, he chased down balls with his usual precision and power, determined to make a statement despite the exhibition setting. The intensity, however, may have come at a cost.
Following his retirement, Djokovic took a moment to thank the Saudi crowd for their support throughout the week.
“Thank you all for treating me so well, I hope to return next year,” he said. “Now I have to rest and address some issues I’m having with my body. I hope I can play the last tournaments of the season.”
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