Novak Djokovic is out of Wimbledon after retiring injured during his quarter-final against Tomas Berdych.
The ex-world number one, who would have regained top spot by winning Wimbledon, was losing 7-6 (7-2) 2-0 to the Czech when he withdrew with an elbow injury.
Djokovic, 30, also had treatment on a right shoulder injury during his last-16 win over Adrian Mannarino and needed further attention against Berdych.
"I haven't felt this much pain since I've had this injury," said Djokovic.
"It's not the shoulder, it's the elbow that has kept bothering me for over a year and a half.
"I was able, for 30 minutes, to play with some pain that was bearable, but the serve and forehand were shots where I could feel it the most. After that, there was really no sense [in continuing]."
World number 15 Berdych, the 2010 Wimbledon runner-up, will face Roger Federer in the semi-final.
Djokovic had been set to play his last-16 match against Mannarino on Monday but it was delayed as Rafael Nadal's match against Gilles Muller went to five sets and tournament officials decided to not move the Serb on to the available Centre Court.
He beat Mannarino 6-2 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in Tuesday's opening match but was the only men's quarter-finalist to not have a day's rest between rounds.
Against Berdych, Djokovic called a medical time out after losing the first set tie-break and received attention on his right arm before he withdrew.
Novak Djokovic was on court for just over an hour against Tomas Berdych before he had to withdraw through injury
"It is unfortunate I had to finish Wimbledon in this way. If someone feels bad, it is me," added Djokovic.
"I spent about two hours, two and a half hours, on the table today in between the warm-up and match, trying to do everything I could to make me fit.
"I'm going to talk with specialists, as I have done in the last year, to try to figure out what's the best way to treat it and find a long-term solution.
"The level of pain was not decreasing, it was only increasing as the days went by. Unfortunately today was the worst day. Probably the fact I played yesterday, days adding up, it wasn't helping at all."
Analysis
John Lloyd, former GB Davis Cup captain on BBC Two
We called it pretty quickly, he couldn't serve above 115 mph from the start. Once Berdych hung in there and won the first set, Novak knew that there was no chance.
Boris Becker, three-time Wimbledon champion on BBC Two
Most players have niggles and pains; nobody in the second week is 100% healthy. But only Djokovic can say how his body is. He knows whether he can play on or not.
It is the right decision. Murray and Djokovic were dominant last year but they are nowhere near that level now. It is a gruelling schedule and everybody else will put in that extra 10% to beat you.
Latest Stories
-
60 out of 100 bills passed into law in the last 4 years – Bagbin
1 hour -
Julius Debrah leads charge as Mahama makes first major appointments ahead of inauguration
1 hour -
Afenyo-Markin is wrong, ORAL is widely accepted by Ghanaians – Ahmed Ibrahim
2 hours -
Thousands rock AfroRave 2024 for Afrocentric extravaganza
3 hours -
RYTHM in Action: QNET donates food and other essentials to the Potter’s Village Orphanage
3 hours -
Akufo-Addo denies reports of presidential pardon to 11
3 hours -
Ambulance case: Gov’t didn’t want to jail you at all cost – Afenyo-Markin to Ato Forson
3 hours -
Minority was a thorn in my flesh – Afenyo-Markin
4 hours -
Minority Leader’s full address on dissolution of 8th Parliament
4 hours -
Afenyo-Markin laments unfinished business as 8th Parliament dissolves
4 hours -
Godfred Dame was determined to use all crude tactics to achieve my prosecution – Ato Forson
4 hours -
AG’s prosecution against me was meant to intimidate – Ato Forson
4 hours -
ORAL a needless committee, only for personal vendetta – Afenyo-Markin
4 hours -
Afenyo-Markin commends Ato Forson for leading a resilient Minority side in 8th Parliament
5 hours -
Silent empowerment: Rural-urban women take control of family planning behind closed doors
5 hours