Novak Djokovic has been handed a walkover into the last eight of the Australian Open after his next opponent was forced to withdraw from the tournament.
Jakub Mensik, who was due to face the Serbian on Monday, has pulled out of the Grand Slam due to an abdominal muscle injury. A problem that has worsened over the past week. The Czech started his campaign in Melbourne with a gutsy five-set win over Pablo Carreno Busta in the first round. Although he enjoyed slightly smoother rides in his next two matches, with straight sets wins over Rafael Jodar and Ethan Quinn.
“It is an unfortunate decision for me to make,” Mensik told reporters.
“After the last couple of matches, I started to feel worse, and the problem is my abdominal muscle on the left side.
“The last few matches, it got significantly worse, and I think if I stepped on the court tomorrow, it would be such a big risk for me and my health.”
Mensik, who is currently ranked 17th in the world, has enjoyed success against 24-time major winner Djokovic. In their first meeting at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, he won a set before losing in three. Then last season, he defeated the Serbian to win the biggest title of his career at the Miami Masters.
“The fact that my fourth-round match was to be against Novak on Rod Laver Arena makes it even more difficult (to withdraw),” he said.
“I’m super sad not to step on the court and to compete against my idol and the G.O.A.T.
“Reaching the fourth round, second week of the Grand Slam for the first time, it’s something that I will take with me. I will do my best to come back again and to come back stronger.”
Djokovic will play either Lorenzo Musetti or Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. So far in the tournament, he has scored wins over Pedro Martinez, Francesco Maestrelli and Botic van de Zandschulp without dropping a set.
The former world No.1 is the most decorated men’s singles champion in Australian Open history with 10 titles to his name.
