This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
Published on September 2, 2019, Novak Djokovic's US Open title defense came to an abrupt end as he quit his fourth-round match against Stan Wawrinka due to a shoulder injury.
The 32-year-old Serb retired with a shoulder problem seconds after a double fault left him two sets and a break down against the 23rd seed Swiss player.
Loud boos greeted Djokovic's decision, with more heard as he walked off the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
"I'm sorry for the crowd. They came to see a full match but it wasn't to be," said world number one Djokovic.
Wawrinka, 34, dominated the last-16 contest in a boisterous atmosphere, producing a powerful display reminiscent of his best to lead 6-4 7-5 2-0 when Djokovic decided he could not continue.
Wawrinka will now play Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
Djokovic had been hampered throughout the tournament with a left shoulder injury, which he says has left him in "constant pain for a few weeks".
He particularly struggled during his second-round match against Argentina's Juan Ignacio Londero on Wednesday, needing intense treatment three times before coming through in straight sets.
However, Djokovic said the intensity of the pain returned against Wawrinka.
"It is very frustrating. Of course it hurts that I had to retire," said the Serb.
"Some days the pain has been higher, some days with less intensity. Obviously I was taking different stuff to kill the pain instantly. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't," he added.
