Novak Djokovic's Australian Open Dream Ends with Injury
Novak Djokovic’s quest for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title came to an abrupt end on Friday as he retired from his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev due to a leg injury. The 37-year-old Serb, who was also chasing a standalone record of 25 Grand Slam titles, withdrew after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5) in a grueling 81-minute tiebreak. Djokovic, visibly struggling with a muscle tear in his left leg sustained during his quarterfinal win over Carlos Alcaraz, was booed by some sections of the Rod Laver Arena crowd as he exited the court, prompting a strong response from Zverev and tennis commentators.
Djokovic, who had his left thigh heavily strapped, revealed he had not practiced since his previous match and felt increasing pain as the first set progressed. “I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear that I had,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “Towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much to handle for me at the moment.” He added that even if he had won the first set, continuing the match would have been an “uphill battle” given his physical condition.
Zverev, who advanced to his first Australian Open final, defended Djokovic during his on-court interview, urging fans to show respect. “Please, guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury,” Zverev said. “Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport, for the past 20 years, absolutely everything of his life.” The German, who will face either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the final, praised Djokovic’s resilience, noting that the Serb had previously won titles at Melbourne Park despite significant injuries.
Djokovic, who has won the Australian Open 10 times, hinted that this could be his last appearance at the tournament. “There is a chance. Who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes,” he said. Despite the setback, Djokovic expressed his determination to continue competing for more Grand Slam titles, stating, “I’ll keep striving to win more Slams. As long as I feel that I want to put up with all of this, I’ll be around.”
The incident has sparked widespread criticism of the crowd’s reaction, with former players and commentators condemning the booing as disrespectful. John McEnroe, commentating for Channel 9, called the behavior “absolutely ludicrous,” while former Australian player John Millman described it as a “disgrace.” Djokovic, who waved and gave a double thumbs-up to the crowd as he left, acknowledged the fans’ disappointment but emphasized that he had given his all to the sport over the years.
Djokovic’s injury marks the second time in the past year he has been forced to withdraw from a Grand Slam due to physical issues, following his retirement at the 2024 French Open. He will now focus on recovery, with his participation in upcoming tournaments, including the Doha event, dependent on his rehabilitation progress.
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