Novak Djokovic surrendered the semifinals of the Australian Open after losing the first set to Alexander Zverev 7:6.
A record ten-time winner of the first Grand Slam of the season, who also holds the record for the number of wins the biggest tournaments (24), he did this because of an injury.
We remind you that Djokovic is also in the quarter-finals against Carlos Alcaraz asked for a medical time-out in the first set due to a groin problem. And then he did it when his rival was leading, so many people, including John McEnroee, accused that he did it in order to break the rival’s rhythm, writes Index.
🚨 Novak Djokovic has retired from the #AusOpen semi-final with injury 🚨
Djokovic stuns the Melbourne crowd as he shakes Alexander Zverev’s hand and departs the court after just one set 😱 pic.twitter.com/LUxT3MvRq9
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 24, 2025
That’s probably why he is the Melbourne crowd booed after even now, when Zverev won the first set, Djokovic said he had to stop because of pain. After the reversal and victory against Alcaraz, the Serbian champion said that he managed it “with one and a half legs” and that he would not have been able to last the match to the end without the medication he had taken.
Djokovic and the second tennis player in the world played only one, but a very exhausting set. It lasted more than 80 minutes and there was no break in it. Admittedly, there were many opportunities to take away the opponent’s serve, but Djokovic and Zverev did not give up.
Novak Djokovic has medically retired from the match after his first set against Alexander Zverev.
Zverev advances to the Australian Open men’s singles final. He and the crowd were stunned at the decision. pic.twitter.com/OMSClFDIXf
— ESPN (@espn) January 24, 2025
U tie-break there was no mini-break until the set ball, when Djokovic had a clean chance to place the ball on his serve. Instead, he smashed into the net and Zverev won the first set. The continuation of the match was expected, but we saw it Djokovic’s tradition. It shocked everyoneas well as his rival.
Zverev now awaits the winner of the match in the final Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton.
Zverev on some of the crowd booing Djokovic after retiring from the Australian Open
“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”
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 24, 2025
(www.jabuka.tv)
