“You can probably miss half a year instead of one month,” Daniil Medvedev explains untimely retirement against Novak Djokovic in Astana Open semifinals
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Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev looked well on course to claim his 15th career singles title, before an untimely injury dashed his aspirations. The Russian was forced to retire midway through his semifinal showdown against Novak Djokovic at the Astana Open 2022. The Serbian had just clawed himself back into the game, after leveling the proceedings in the second set.
However, Daniil Medvedev was brought down with a pulled muscle which meant that fans were deprived of an entertaining third set battle. In his post-match press conference, the US Open 2021 champion revealed the reason for his retirement, and stated that his injury felt more than just a cramp at first.
Daniil Medvedev disclosed that he pushed himself during the second-set tiebreaker as well, when he felt a pop in his adductor. “It’s the second time in my life I retired like this with a pulled muscle. So here, on the second part of tiebreak, I felt a little bit of strange pop in my adductor. I thought first maybe its a cramp and after the point, I was like, ‘No probably not a cramp,'” said Medvedev.
“I have no idea what is fair,” Daniil Medvedev on his retirement from Astana Open semifinals
Daniil Medvedev was enjoying a strong week in Astana, where he reached the semifinals without dropping a single set. After facing an issue in the midst of the second set tiebreaker, the Russian decided to end his journey, which he considered as a safer option.
Fans across the world were certainly shocked with his retirement, and he was also criticized for his abrupt withdrawal. The Russian claimed that even if he won the semifinal against Novak Djokovic, he would not be in a shape to play the final.
“If I play one more set, you can do it, but you probably miss half a year instead of a month. If I won, I would not play the final. If I manage to win, well I cannot do anything. If I lose, then congrats to Novak, he is still in great shape. Good luck to him in the final,” said Medvedev.
After clinching his first major at the US Open last year, things have not fallen in place for Daniil Medvedev in 2022. He has had his fair share of struggles, and it will be interesting to see as to how he closes out his season.
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Nirmit Mehta
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