MELBOURNE, Australia — Fans expressed their disappointment as Novak Djokovic exited the Rod Laver Arena after conceding his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev during the Australian Open on Friday. Djokovic left the court with a noticeable injury, having to retire after just one set, which he lost 7-6 (5). Following a mishit on a forehand volley, he shook Zverev’s hand and made his way off the court, acknowledging the crowd’s jeers with two thumbs-up gestures.
In the post-match press conference, Djokovic revealed that the discomfort in his heavily bandaged left leg had intensified, a result of an injury sustained in his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz just a few days prior. “I knew,” he commented, “even if I won the first set, it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me.” He was striving for his 11th title at this event and aiming to achieve an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam win overall.
This incident marks the second time in recent major tournaments that Djokovic has been unable to complete a match due to injury. Last year, he had to withdraw from the French Open pre-quarterfinals after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee. Despite having undergone surgery in Paris, Djokovic managed to bounce back and reached the final at Wimbledon shortly afterward, eventually winning a gold medal for Serbia at the Paris Olympics.
Zverev, seeded second, advanced to the title match in Melbourne and is set to compete against the winner of the semifinal between No. 1 seed Jannik Sinner, the defending champion from Italy, and No. 21 Ben Shelton from the United States. At 27, the German player has previously been a finalist at major tournaments, finishing as a runner-up in five-set matches at the 2020 U.S. Open and the 2024 French Open.
“My aim remains to compete with the top players and to secure victories in these tournaments,” Zverev stated. “For that, improvement is essential, both on the court and in terms of physical preparation.” During his on-court interview, Zverev urged the spectators to show respect towards Djokovic, acknowledging his significant contributions to the sport over the past two decades. “I understand everyone paid for tickets and anticipated a thrilling match,” he noted. “But you’ve got to appreciate that Novak Djokovic has dedicated his entire life to tennis.”
The only set played between Djokovic and Zverev lasted over an hour, with numerous rallies extending beyond nine strokes. The initial four games alone consumed more than half an hour, filled with intense baseline exchanges and intentional delays between points by Djokovic, who was often nearing the end of the allotted serve time.
Despite the match being a challenging one, it was further complicated for Djokovic due to the leg issue that became apparent towards the end of his match against Alcaraz. “I didn’t hit the ball from after the Alcaraz match until about an hour before today’s match,” Djokovic mentioned. He made efforts to manage the muscle tear, utilizing medications and support from physiotherapists, but ultimately, the pain became unbearable. “I did everything possible, but towards the end of that first set, the pain intensified to a level I couldn’t endure. It was an unfortunate ending, but I tried.”
Zverev acknowledged sensing Djokovic’s struggles during the tiebreaker, mentioning he could see indications that Djokovic was finding it increasingly difficult. Two years prior at the same venue, Djokovic had battled through a left hamstring injury to win the championship, and he had previously overcome being down a set to Alcaraz, who is significantly younger. However, this time, the Serbian maestro could not replicate that comeback.
After the match, Djokovic left many questions unanswered, including whether this could potentially be his last appearance at the Australian Open. “There’s a chance. Who knows?” he reflected. “I’ll see how the season progresses. I want to keep playing.” He expressed uncertainty regarding the duration of his recovery and the implications for his coaching arrangements with former rival Andy Murray.
Despite the challenges, Djokovic affirmed his unwavering determination and goals. “I’m not worried about approaching every Grand Slam with concern over potential injuries, but the statistics are, in a way, against me recently,” he explained. “However, I’ll continue to persevere, striving to add to my Slam count. As long as I feel the motivation to endure this, I will remain in the game.”
