Jakub Menšík canceled his duel against his idol due to an abdominal muscle injury, immediately after the announcement of the schedule according to which they were supposed to close the program at Rod Laver Arena tomorrow - Novak Djokovic will rest until the quarterfinals!
Czech Menšík decided to withdraw from the tournament, posting on his Instagram profile.
"This is difficult to write. After doing everything we could to move on, I have to withdraw from the Australian Open due to an abdominal muscle injury that has been worsening over the last few matches. After long discussions with my team and doctors, we have made the decision not to play tomorrow. Although I am disappointed, reaching the 4th round here for the first time is something I will carry with me for a long time. I felt the huge energy of the crowd, and the atmosphere in Melbourne was truly special," the young Czech wrote, adding:
"Thank you to my team for being there for me every step of the way and to everyone who sent messages and cheered me on - it means more than you think. Now it's time for me to recover properly."
He was supposed to be a big test for Novak Djokovic at the tournament, especially because he triumphed over his idol in the final of the Miami Masters last year, when he shocked the entire tennis world.
Not Djokovic, who is Menšik's mentor, and recognizing his talent as a teenager, brought him to Montenegro to learn from the best.
Menšik then announced that his stay in beautiful Montenegro was the most beautiful memory of his life.
After winning the Miami title, the 20-year-old Menshick struggled with injuries, but he beat Casper Ruud early in the season and then won the Auckland tournament. He came to Melbourne as the 17th seed, and the injury ended his seven-game winning streak.
He also confirmed his class against Djokovic at the Shanghai Masters in 2024, when he took a set at the age of 18.
Only Djokovic will have time to resolve the problem of a minor injury to his right foot and prepare for the match against the winner of the duel between Italian Lorenzo Musetti and American Taylor Fritz.
Bonus video:
