In a dramatic turn of events, Novak Djokovic’s quest for an 11th Australian Open title came to an abrupt halt as the tennis legend retired after the opening set of his semi-final clash against Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old cited a muscle tear in his left leg as the reason for his withdrawal, marking only the second time in his illustrious career that he has retired mid-match at a Major—his last being at the 2019 US Open.
A Herculean Effort Against Alcaraz
Djokovic’s injury woes began in his quarter-final showdown against Carlos Alcaraz, where he suffered a left leg muscle tear during the match’s critical moments. Despite the setback, the Serb showcased his legendary resilience, securing a four-set victory after three hours and 37 minutes of grueling tennis.
“I beat Carlos on Tuesday and did not hit a ball until an hour before my match against Alexander. I did everything in my power to control the muscle tear with medication, protection, and physiotherapy,” Djokovic revealed post-match.
The Semi-Final That Could Have Been
Heading into the semi-final against world no. 2 Alexander Zverev, Djokovic’s condition was clearly compromised. Although he fought valiantly, saving five break points during the opening set, the pain visibly hindered his performance. After 80 minutes of intense action, the set went into a tiebreak, where Djokovic faltered on a volley at 5-6, handing Zverev the lead. Moments later, the 24-time Grand Slam champion stunned the crowd by retiring from the match.
“The pain increased towards the end of the first set, becoming too much to deal with. I would have tried to continue if I had won the first set. However, the injury worsened during the more energetic exchanges. Thus, it was impossible to stay on the court longer,” Djokovic explained.
A Setback, Not the End
The retirement marked a second consecutive Australian Open semi-final exit for Djokovic, following his loss at the same stage last year. The Serb plans to return to Europe for further medical evaluation and aims to recover in time for the ATP 500 event in Doha.
“I thought two days of rest would be enough, but that was not the case,” Djokovic admitted, expressing his disappointment.
Zverev Advances, Djokovic Looks Ahead
While Zverev moves on to his third Grand Slam final, Djokovic’s abrupt exit underscores the physical toll of his relentless pursuit of excellence at the highest level. As he heads back to Europe, fans worldwide will be hoping for his swift recovery and eagerly anticipating his next steps in the 2025 season.
The tennis world knows one thing for sure: Novak Djokovic is far from done.