Melbourne, Austrailia, the audience was not friendly to Novak Djokovic early Friday morning.
In his quest to expand his record with a 25th Grand Slam, only Djokovic managed to play a set that retired from his Australian open semi -final fight after tore a muscle in his left leg.
The withdrawal sent Alexander Zverev to Sunday’s final against Jannick Sinner, leaving the amount disappointed.
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Serbia’s Novak Djokovic packs his bags after retiring from his men’s singles semi -final match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Day 13 in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2025. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)
After he admitted the match to Zverev, who won the set, fans lived him as he went out towards the dressing room.
Djokovic stopped, turned around and responded by giving two thumbs.
Zverev made his disappointment with the crowd known.
“Boo a player when he goes out with an injury. I know everyone paid for tickets and everyone will see a fantastic five-set match but you have to understand Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport in The last 20 years absolutely everything in his life, “Zverev said in his on-Court interview.
Novak Djokovic from Serbia goes out after his match against Alexander Zverev from Germany in the semi -finals of the men’s singles at 2025 Australian Open in Melbourne Park. (Mike Frey-Preferred Pictures)
“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear. He has won this tournament with a hamstring -tower. If he can’t continue a tennis match, it really means he can’t continue a tennis match. So please be respectful . ”
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John McEnroe added onto the call, “They can’t possibly book him. Please! He has won this 10 times, for God’s sake. Unreal …
“I mean, clearly there was something up. The guy is a battler. I mean him and rafa [Nadal] Have dug deeper than any two players I’ve seen. So to do it because he decided he couldn’t continue after what he has done here, I thought I was absolutely ridiculous, honest. It was almost as depressing as watching the end of the match. “
Djokovic suffered the injury during his five-set classic with Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, but he said the pain was “worse and worse.”
“Mot the end of the first set, I just started to feel more and more pain and it was too much to deal with for me at the moment. So yes, unlucky ending, but I tried,” Djokovic said.
“I knew that even though I won the first set, it would be a huge uphill for me.”
He retired from last year’s French Open before the quarterfinals after taking the meniscus in his right knee during a match.
Djokovic had operation a few days later and immediately reached the final of the following major, Wimbledon, and then won a gold medal for Serbia at Parisol.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic responds to a point against Germany’s Alexander Zverev during their men’s singles semi -final match on Day 13 in the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2025. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)
This will be Zverev’s first final at the Australian Open and the third final of his career. He also made last year’s French Open final as well as 2020 US Open.
