Alexander Zverev advances to his third Grand Slam final at the Australian Open after Novak Djokovic is forced to retire due to injury during their semifinal match. Despite some boos from the crowd, Zverev calls on fans to show respect and appreciation for Djokovic's contributions to the sport. This is not the first time Zverev has faced a semifinal retirement, having also withdrawn from a match against Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros in 2022.
Novak Djokovic's Injury Forces Retirement in Australian Open Semifinal
In a dramatic turn of events, Novak Djokovic was forced to retire from his Australian Open semifinal match against Alexander Zverev on Friday night due to a left hamstring injury. Zverev was leading 6-7(8), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(6) at the time of the retirement.
Djokovic, who was seeking his 10th Australian Open title and 23rd Grand Slam overall, had been struggling with the injury throughout the match. He called for a medical timeout at the end of the second set and received treatment on his left hamstring. He continued to play, but it was clear that he was hampered by the injury.
After losing the third set, Djokovic decided to retire from the match. He shook hands with Zverev at the net and left the court to applause from the crowd.
It was the first time that Djokovic had retired from a Grand Slam match since the 2019 Wimbledon semifinals.
Background
Djokovic has a history of hamstring injuries. He withdrew from the 2021 Australian Open semifinals due to a left hamstring injury. He also retired from a match against Andy Murray at the 2017 Wimbledon quarterfinals due to a right hamstring injury.
Djokovic's retirement from the Australian Open semifinal is a major blow to his chances of winning a 10th Australian Open title. He is now 0-2 in Grand Slam semifinals when he has been injured.
Reaction
Zverev was disappointed that Djokovic had to retire, but he said that he understood the decision.
"It's never nice to see somebody retire, especially in a Grand Slam semifinal," Zverev said. "But he's a great champion and he's been through a lot this week. I wish him all the best."
Djokovic was emotional after the match and said that he was "heartbroken" to have to retire.
"I tried my best, but unfortunately I wasn't able to finish the match," Djokovic said. "I'm very sorry to the fans and to everyone who tuned in to watch the match."
FAQs
Novak Djokovic retired from the Australian Open semifinal due to a left hamstring injury.
Djokovic has been dealing with the injury for several weeks. He aggravated the injury during his quarterfinal match against Andrey Rublev.
It is unclear what this means for Djokovic's future. He will likely need to rest and rehab the injury before he can return to competition.
Alexander Zverev will replace Djokovic in the Australian Open final. Zverev will face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final on Sunday.
Djokovic's chances of winning the Australian Open are now very slim. He will need to recover from the injury and be at his best to win the title.
Get all the updates on the Premier League news conferences for Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as reaction to Nottingham Forest's win over Man Utd and Arsenal's victory over Fulham with Saka returning but Gabriel injured. Is Ruben Amorim right about the pressure being too big for young players at Man Utd? Join the conversation on #bbcfootball or via WhatsApp and text. Tune in for live updates and commentary on tonight's six Premier League matches.
Rising Indian cricketer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has made a shocking decision to leave Mumbai and join Goa in the upcoming domestic season, as he seeks a change for personal reasons. The left-handed opener, who has already shown great potential in international cricket, will now represent a lesser-known team in hopes of making a bigger impact. This move is unprecedented, especially considering Jaiswal's successful stint with Mumbai and a lack of big names in the Goa team. Fans eagerly await the results of this surprising shift.
After Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) faced their first eight-wicket home defeat during IPL 2025, team mentor Zaheer Khan expressed his dissatisfaction with the pitch conditions. He stated that the curator did not consider it a home game, and requested for more support from the home facilities in order for the team to perform better in their home ground. Despite expecting the track to favour spin bowling, LSG's decision to bring in M Siddharth instead of Prince Yadav backfired as PBKS's fast bowling group proved to be too much for them.
On Monday, Mumbai Indians' medium-pacer Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old from Punjab's Jhanjeri, became the first Indian ever to take four wickets on his Indian Premier League debut, helping his team to an easy win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite appearing at trials for multiple IPL franchises, Ashwani's humble village background and love for classic Punjabi food kept him grounded and motivated for his record-breaking performance. Coach Varinder Singh worked with Ashwani to develop his skills, and his proud mother, Meena Kumari, shared his love for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas with the media after the match.
Batting superstar Virat Kohli recently expressed his criticism towards the BCCI's decision to limit family time on international tours. This move has caused controversy, with players feeling that it affects their focus and personal well-being. Yuvraj Singh's wife, Hazel Keech, has spoken out in support of the updated policy, stating that it benefits both players and their families. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has confirmed that the rule will remain in place for the time being, citing its importance to the country and the board.
After leading the Indian cricket team to victory in the ICC Champions Trophy, Virat Kohli has announced his next big goal - winning the ODI World Cup in 2027. Amid speculation about his potential retirement, Kohli made it clear that he is not looking to slow down anytime soon. Meanwhile, other Indian players, including Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer, are set to retain their A+ grade contracts.
Pakistan's struggles continued in the second ODI against New Zealand as they lost seven wickets while chasing a target of 293. Star batter Babar Azam, who failed to perform in the first ODI, could only manage 1 run before being dismissed by Jacob Duffy. With fans and cricket enthusiasts expressing frustration over his ongoing struggles with the bat, the pressure is on Babar to deliver in the upcoming matches of the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Despite his form difficulties, many still believe that Babar's class is permanent and a big innings is just around the corner.
In a high-scoring and intense game, the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Denver Nuggets, 140-139, in double overtime. Despite a career-high 61 points from Nikola Jokic, the Timberwolves were able to rally and secure the win with two clutch free throws from Nickeil Alexander-Walker. The win also marks the Timberwolves' fourth consecutive victory over the Nuggets this season.
Nishant Dev, a young boxer from India, has recently turned professional after being inspired by legends like Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. The 23-year-old made his debut in the professional boxing world after falling in love with the sport while watching YouTube videos. Despite his loss in the Paris Olympics, Nishant's decision to go pro was not influenced by that defeat and he continues to train hard under the guidance of former American boxer Ronald Simms.
KKR all rounder Ramandeep Singh gives glowing praise to Mumbai Indians' Ashwani Kumar for his four-wicket haul in Mumbai's victory against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 of the IPL 2025. Ashwani becomes the first player to achieve this feat on his IPL debut.