By Ashiadey Dotse
Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open journey came to an unfortunate end after he retired hurt during his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old star left the court after losing the first set in a closely contested tie-break, 7-5.
Djokovic, visibly struggling, received boos from the crowd as he exited Rod Laver Arena but turned back to give a double thumbs-up in response.
Concerns about Djokovic’s fitness arose earlier in the tournament after he sustained a muscle tear in his left leg during a tough four-set match against Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night. He skipped practice sessions on Wednesday and Thursday, warming up only briefly before the semi-final.
Speaking after the match, Djokovic explained, “I did everything I could to manage the muscle tear. The medications, strapping, and physio helped, but by the end of the first set, the pain was too much.”
He admitted that even if he had won the first set, continuing would have been nearly impossible. “It would’ve been an uphill battle to stay physically fit enough to compete for another two, three, or four hours,” he said.
The retirement marks a disappointing end to Djokovic’s quest for another Grand Slam title, leaving fans and the tennis world wondering what’s next for the 24-time champion.
