Melbourne: Legendary tennis professional Novak Djokovic retired from the Australian Open 2025 men's singles semi-final vs Alexander Zverev due to a left leg injury at the Rod Laver Arena on Friday, January 24, 2025. This will be Zverev's first Australian Open and their Grand Slam final.
Novak Djokovic, who scripted history by becoming the first men's singles player to reach the semi-final of a major tournament 50 times after defeating his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz in the quarters, lost the first set to Zverev in a tiebreaker. Notably, Djokovic already holds the world record for the player with the most semi-final appearances in Grand Slams after beating long-time rival Roger Federer's record (46).
🤯 @alexzverev claims an extraordinary first set - and ultimately the match.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025
Having battled through the set, @djokernole has been forced to retire due to injury.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/uH2iiLJaVC
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev stands at 6-6 in the first set of the Australian Open semi-final. The set went into the tie-breaker and Zverev won it by 7-5. After losing that first set in 81 minutes, the injury that the Serb carried into this one was going to be too much to carry as he shook hands with German and the umpires.
Not how we wanted your campaign to end, @djokernole.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025
Thank you for another wonderful Australian summer. Well played and best wishes for a speedy recovery.#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/d5VJ6YNBeN
Novak Djokovic has faced a number of injury challenges over the past year. Last year at Roland Garros, he withdrew from the tournament before his quarterfinal match against Casper Ruud due to a right knee injury. Additionally, he missed the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, because of another injury.
Alexander Zverev came out against the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena booing at Novak Djokovic after the Serbian tennis legend had to retire from the two stars' men's singles semi-final due to injury, after just one set. "Please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury. I know everyone paid for tickets. But Novak has given everything of his life to the sport the last 20 years.," Zverev said after the conclusion of the semi-final.
" i played one of my best sets... and i won 7-5 in a tiebreak while he was injured!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025
i don't know... maybe novak is too good for the sport!"
😂 @alexzverev.#AO2025 pic.twitter.com/WL0BdGmtMw
Zverev also revealed that Djokovic has always supported and guided him when wasn't performing well. He also mentioned that he played one of the best sets today, but still, he won the first set 7-5 in the tie-breaker. "I played one of my best sets... and I won 7-5 in a tiebreak while he was injured! I don't know... maybe Novak is too good for the sport!" said Zverev.
The Serbian player had been dealing with an injury since his quarterfinal match against Alcaraz. However, some taping on his upper leg and a few painkillers enabled him to play through the first set. He took a medical timeout after the opening set. Later, Djokovic, 37 years old, stated that had he not won the second set, he would have considered retiring from the match.
However, before the clash, the Serbian had said that he wasn't feeling 100 per cent fit as he had skipped training two days before the penultimate clash. "I'm concerned. I am, to be honest, physically," said Djokovic, a 10-time champion at Melbourne Park. "But if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, emotionally I'm as motivated as I can be."
His leg could take no more and Zverev was through to his third major final to face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton on Sunday.
