Reigning US Open champion Dominic Thiem has become the latest high-profile player to withdraw from Wimbledon. The world number five has pulled out of the Grand Slam event after suffering a wrist injury at the Mallorca Open.
Thiem had to retire from his last-16 match against Adrian Mannarino after injuring his wrist while hitting a forehand.
The Austrian will have to wear a wrist splint for five weeks after tests found he had a ‘detachment of the posterior sheath of the ulnar side of the right wrist’.
The 27-year-old was due to be seeded fourth at Wimbledon, but has now followed Rafael Nadal in ruling himself out of competing at the All England Club.
“I’m going to do everything the doctors say in order to recover as quickly as possible,” Thiem posted on Instagram.
“I will do my best to be back on court soon.”
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Djokovic is a firm favourite with the bookies to win in SW19, having already picked up both the Australian Open and French Open titles this year.
The world number one could face a challenge from Stefanos Tsitipas and Daniil Medvedev, while Federer can never be ruled out at Wimbledon.
Federer is currently seeded as seventh at Wimbledon, but Thiem’s withdrawal should mean the 39-year-old is bumped up to No 6 and could therefore play on the opposite side of the draw to Djokovic.
That is undoubtedly a boost for the Swiss maestro, who will want to avoid playing the in-form Djokovic for as long as possible.
Federer has struggled to find his best form since undergoing knee surgery. He was beaten by Felix Auger Aliassime in the last 16 at the Halle Open last week and will face a difficult task to win what would be his 21st Grand Slam title and his ninth at Wimbledon.
