MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, was forced to retire from his Australian Open semifinal match against Alexander Zverev on Friday afternoon due to a muscle tear in his left leg.
The match began with a grueling first set, lasting 81 minutes, which Zverev claimed in a tiebreak. Djokovic, who had been playing with heavy strapping on his left thigh, approached the net after the set, shook hands with Zverev, and conceded the match. His withdrawal secured Zverev’s place in Sunday’s final.
As Djokovic exited the court at Rod Laver Arena, the crowd’s boos echoed through the stadium. In response, Djokovic gave a thumbs-up gesture to the audience. Speaking to reporters shortly after, a visibly dejected Djokovic said, “I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear I had. The medications, the strapping, and the physio work helped to some extent, but by the end of the first set, the pain became unbearable. It just got worse and worse.”
He acknowledged the physical toll the injury had taken, adding, “Even if I had won the first set, it would’ve been a monumental challenge to sustain my level for another two, three, or even four hours. Unfortunately, I didn’t have that in me today.”
Zverev, set to play in his first Australian Open final against either defending champion Jannik Sinner or No. 21 Ben Shelton, addressed the crowd during his on-court interview. He urged fans to show more compassion, saying, “Please, don’t boo a player who is forced to retire due to injury. Novak has won this tournament through immense pain before—whether with an abdominal tear or a hamstring injury. He deserves respect.”
Djokovic was vying for a record-extending 11th Australian Open title but sustained the injury earlier in the week during his quarterfinal victory over world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz. This marks the second time in 12 months that Djokovic has been forced out of a Grand Slam due to injury, following his withdrawal from last year’s French Open quarterfinal against Casper Ruud due to a knee issue.
Reflecting on his recent struggles, Djokovic admitted, “In the last few years, I’ve faced more injuries than I’d like. I’m not constantly worrying about getting injured at every Grand Slam, but the statistics haven’t been in my favor lately. Regardless, I’ll keep striving to win more Slams and remain in the game as long as I have the drive.”
Djokovic plans to undergo further evaluation to assess the extent of the injury and determine his recovery timeline. “Once I return to Europe, I’ll consult my medical team and physios to figure out the best path forward,” he said. “I’m scheduled to play in Doha in a few weeks, but that depends on how quickly I recover. It all hinges on how my muscle responds to treatment.”
For now, Djokovic’s focus shifts to rehabilitation and recovery, while Zverev looks ahead to his shot at a maiden Australian Open title.
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