Wimbledon 2024: Kokkinakis Withdraws, De Minaur, Djokovic, Popyrin in Spotlight Australian tennis has been dealt a blow with the withdrawal of Thanasi Kokkinakis from Wimbledon 2024 due to an injury setback. The news casts a shadow over the hopes of an Australian breakthrough at the prestigious Grand Slam. Kokkinakis’s Injury Woes Return Kokkinakis, who was seeded 12th for the tournament, had been in impressive form leading up to Wimbledon. However, he suffered a knee injury during a practice session, forcing him to withdraw. It marks another cruel blow in the 23-year-old’s career, which has been plagued by injuries. De Minaur Steps In With Kokkinakis out, Alex de Minaur will be the highest-ranked Australian in the men’s singles draw. The 24-year-old has enjoyed a steady rise in recent years and is currently ranked 14th in the world. De Minaur will be hoping to build on his impressive showing at the Australian Open, where he reached the fourth round. Djokovic Eyes Title Defense Novak Djokovic remains the overwhelming favorite for the Wimbledon title. The Serbian star has won the tournament seven times, including in 2022. Djokovic is currently in dominant form, having won all three Grand Slams he played last year. Popyrin Seeks Upset Alexei Popyrin is another Australian who will be hoping to make a mark at Wimbledon. The 23-year-old is ranked 87th in the world but has a proven track record of causing upsets. Popyrin reached the fourth round of Wimbledon in 2021 and will be looking to repeat that performance or better this year. Analysis Kokkinakis’ withdrawal is a major setback for Australian tennis. However, De Minaur, Djokovic, and Popyrin all have the potential to fly the flag for Australia. De Minaur has been in promising form, while Djokovic remains the man to beat. Popyrin could be a dark horse for an upset, having shown his ability to rise to the occasion on the big stage. The 2024 Wimbledon Championships promise to be another thrilling spectacle. While Kokkinakis’ absence is disappointing, the presence of De Minaur, Djokovic, and Popyrin ensures that Australian tennis will still have a strong presence at the All England Club.Thanasi Kokkinakis Injured at WimbledonThanasi Kokkinakis Injured at Wimbledon Australian tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis has been forced to withdraw from Wimbledon after suffering a left knee injury in a fall on Thursday. Kokkinakis, 28, sustained the injury during a third-set match against Lucas Pouille. He immediately felt pain and appeared to suffer a similar injury to one he had at the Queen’s Club tournament two years ago. “I’ve got to see some scans tomorrow to see the severity of this, but I know I’ve had a similar injury to the one I had at Queen’s, but the severity of this, it feels a little bit worse, my gut feeling,” Kokkinakis said. The injury is a devastating blow for Kokkinakis, who has had a history of injuries throughout his career. In 2015, he suffered a serious shoulder injury that set him back for several years. He has also had issues with his back, knees, and mental health. Despite his injuries, Kokkinakis has shown determination in recent years and has been playing well. He had hoped to make a deep run at Wimbledon this year, but his injury has now ended those hopes. Other Australian players had mixed results on Thursday. Alex de Minaur advanced to the third round with a win over Jaume Munar, while Alexei Popyrin will face Novak Djokovic on Saturday. However, Adam Walton and Daria Saville both suffered defeats. The injury to Kokkinakis is a reminder of the challenges athletes face in staying healthy and achieving their full potential. It is a heartbreaking setback for a player who has shown great resilience and determination throughout his career.Wimbledon 2024: Kokkinakis Withdraws with Injury, De Minaur, Djokovic, Popyrin Battle On Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis has withdrawn from Wimbledon 2024 due to a recurring shoulder injury, dealing a blow to his Grand Slam hopes. Kokkinakis, ranked 55th in the world, has struggled with injuries throughout his career and will now likely miss the rest of the grass-court season. The 26-year-old’s withdrawal leaves Australia without one of its rising stars at Wimbledon. However, Alex de Minaur, Novak Djokovic, and Alexei Popyrin will represent the nation. De Minaur, ranked 20th in the world, has enjoyed a strong start to the year, reaching the semifinals of the Australian Open and the final of the Rotterdam Open. He will be looking to make a deep run at Wimbledon, where he reached the third round in 2023. Djokovic, ranked 1st in the world, is a six-time Wimbledon champion and one of the favorites for the title. The Serbian will be looking to extend his record-breaking Grand Slam tally to 23. Popyrin, ranked 65th in the world, is a rising star on the ATP Tour and will be making his third appearance at Wimbledon. He will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of De Minaur and Kokkinakis by reaching the latter stages of the tournament. The absence of Kokkinakis is a disappointment for Australian tennis fans, but De Minaur, Djokovic, and Popyrin will all be looking to make their mark at Wimbledon 2024.