08 June,2017 08:33 AM IST | Paris | Agencies
Serbian World No. 2 contemplates break from tennis after suffering humiliating 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 loss to Austrian Dominic in quarters
Novak Djokovic yesterday insisted that he still has the hunger to regain his status as the best player in the world, but did not rule out taking a break from the sport.
The 30-year-old Serb crashed out of the French Open where he was the defending champion in a stunning 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0 quarter-final loss to Dominic Thiem.
Nadal next for Dominic
Thiem set up a semi-final duel against nine-time champion Rafael Nadal who got a walkover after Pablo Carreno Busta retired with injury while trailing 6-2, 2-0 Djokovic hinted he may step back from the sport to regroup ahead of Wimbledon.
"Trust me, I'm thinking about many things, especially in the last of couple months," he said. "At the same time, I have responsibility to the game, towards others. We'll see. Obviously it's not an easy decision to make, but I will see how I feel after Roland Garros and then decide what to do next."
Yesterday saw him suffer a first 6-0 'bagel' at a Slam since the 2005 US Open while the defeat will see him slip out of the world's top two for the first time in six years. "All the top players go through this. I have to get through it, learn and come back stronger. It's a big challenge but I am up for it," said Djokovic. "I expect a lot from myself. I'm not playing close to my best and I know that.
But I am trying to work on things. It's a whole new situation that I am facing by not winning any big tournaments in the last seven or eight months."
Murray enters semis
World No. 1 Andy Murray advanced to his fifth French Open semi-final yesterday, defeating Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori 2-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/0), 6-1. Murray will meet 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka for a spot in Sunday's final.
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