Spectators at Rod Laver Arena expressed their disappointment as Novak Djokovic exited the court following his withdrawal from the Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev, which took place on Friday. Djokovic, who was grappling with what he described as a torn muscle in his left leg, lost the first set 7-6 (5) before shaking hands with Zverev and leaving the match after just one set.
Djokovic, aiming for his 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam championship, acknowledged the escalating pain in his leg, which was taped for support. He recounted the injury had developed during his previous quarterfinal victory against Carlos Alcaraz. “Even if I won the first set, it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me,” Djokovic remarked during the press conference.
This recent development marks the second time in four major tournaments that Djokovic has been forced to withdraw due to injury; he similarly exited last year’s French Open prior to the quarterfinals due to a knee issue. After undergoing surgery, he made a strong comeback by reaching the final at Wimbledon and winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
With Djokovic’s departure, Zverev advanced to the title match at Melbourne Park. The 27-year-old remarked on his desire to compete at the highest level and stated the importance of continuous improvement. “My goal is still to compete with the big guys and try to win these tournaments,” Zverev noted.
During his on-court interview, Zverev urged spectators not to boo Djokovic, emphasizing the dedication and contributions the Serbian player has made to the sport over the past two decades. “Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given this sport absolutely everything of his life,” he stated.
The semifinal matchup was marked by long, grueling rallies, and Djokovic confessed that he had only practiced shortly before the match, reflecting the toll the injury had taken. “I did everything I possibly can to manage the muscle tear,” he explained. Despite the setback, Djokovic remains committed to continuing his career.
In response to the uncertain future, he mentioned the possibility of this being his last appearance at the Australian Open but remained hopeful about continuing to compete. “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,” Djokovic concluded.
Though the match ended prematurely, fans can remain optimistic about Djokovic’s future, given his resilience and determination in overcoming challenges throughout his career.