Novak Djokovic’s journey at the Australian Open ended painfully. The Serbian, visibly affected by a groin injury that had already troubled him in the quarterfinals against Alcaraz, was forced to withdraw during his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev. After an intense hour and 21 minutes of play, and with his left thigh heavily bandaged, Djokovic decided to leave the court, leaving the Rod Laver Arena crowd stunned.
The first set, a tightly contested battle, culminated in a tie-break won 7-6 by the German. Djokovic fought valiantly but made a critical error on a volley that ended the set and highlighted the pain that was becoming impossible to endure. "I did everything I could to compete: massages, treatments, taping, and my physiotherapist's support. But at some point, the pain was unbearable," the Serbian star explained in a post-match press conference.
Following Djokovic’s withdrawal, Zverev addressed the crowd, urging them to show respect: "Never boo a player who is injured, especially not Nole. He’s one of the greatest and has often played through unimaginable pain. If he stopped today, it means he was truly suffering."
Australian Open, Sinner winner again: Zverev falls in straight sets
26 Jan - 20:48 •
1' min
Despite his disappointment, Djokovic remained focused on the future: "I’ll return to Europe to undergo all the necessary tests and understand the extent of the injury. I want to be ready to come back soon, possibly in Doha in a few weeks. Tennis is a sport I deeply love, and I’ll keep chasing my dream of winning more Slams."
Meanwhile, Zverev is preparing for the final, where he will face Jannik Sinner, who beat Shelton. Although the day ended in frustration, Djokovic shared words of admiration for his opponent: "Sascha deserves to be here. He’s a great champion and a friend. I wish him the best for the final."
