Medvedev’s injury belief and recovery period guess after Djokovic loss

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Daniil Medvedev said that quitting midway through the Astana Open semi-final was the best option to reduce the time he spends out injured and believes he will be out for about one month. The 26-year-old shocked fans after seeming fine but conceding his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic while it was level 6-4, 6-7 (8-6).

Fans were left shocked by the surprise withdrawal and the former world number one said he could have continued, but risked spending longer out injured. Medvedev who is current world number four could be back playing for the season-ending ATP Tour Finals being held between November 13 to 20.

“It’s the second time in my life I retired like this with a pulled muscle,” Medvedev said. “So here, on the second point of the tie-break, I felt a little strange pop in my adductor.

“I first thought maybe it’s a cramp and after the point I was like: ‘No, probably not a cramp’. And during the tie-break, I felt I can play like five, 10 more points but that’s it.

“If I play one more set, you can do it, but you can probably miss half a year instead of one month. So I actually have no idea what is fair. If I won, I would not play the final.”

Djokovic was stunned as Medvedev shook hands with his opponent before walking off the court. The Serbian then went on to beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4 in today’s final.

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“I am still surprised that he retired the match,” said Djokovic. “He looked completely fine, maybe the last seven or eight points I saw him move slightly slower but it’s a shock honestly.

“I was ready for a third set battle and I really hope his injury is nothing too serious. I know Daniil, he’s a great guy, he’s a fighter, a big competitor and he wouldn’t retire a match if he felt he couldn’t continue.”

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