Novak Djokovic, preparing for his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev, has skipped practice for the second consecutive day following a concerning injury update. The Serbian star had sustained a similar left hamstring injury during his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz, requiring strapping and painkillers to continue his match.

Despite the injury, Djokovic, 37, followed his successful 2023 Australian Open blueprint by choosing not to practice on his off-day, a decision that helped him claim his 10th Melbourne title last year, even while dealing with a left hamstring strain. Djokovic admitted his concern over the current injury, expressing that he would rely on recovery strategies, including rest, to ensure he is physically ready for his semi-final clash against world No.2 Zverev.

In a move to continue his recovery, Djokovic cancelled a planned 90-minute training session with coach Andy Murray on Thursday, choosing instead to rest before Friday’s match. Although this lack of practice is unusual for most players, Djokovic’s past successes under similar circumstances suggest that his mental preparation and experience could be key factors in overcoming any physical limitations.

The Serbian’s ability to push through injury has been a hallmark of his career, and while the physical challenge may be daunting, Djokovic remains confident in his ability to handle the pressure. His battle with the injury last year, where he claimed to have a 3cm tear in his hamstring, drained him emotionally but did not prevent him from winning his 22nd Grand Slam title.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes are on Djokovic’s physical condition, and his semi-final with Zverev will test whether he can once again defy the odds and make it to the final.

Djokovic at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently the world no.7, Djokovic has achieved a 7-1 win-loss record in 2025. Novak is now playing at the Australian Open where he conquered the world no.107 Nishesh Basavareddy 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-2, the world no.125 Jaime Faria 6-1 6-7(4) 6-3 6-2, the world no.25 Tomas Machac 6-1 6-4 6-4, the world no.29 Jiri Lehecka 6-3 6-4 7-6(4) and the world no.3 Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-4.

Novak Djokovic will fight against the world no.2 Alexander Zverev in the semifinal on Friday at 2:30 pm on Rod Laver Arena. Their record is 8-4

for Djokovic.

Novak won 99 titles in his career: 52 on hard courts, 20 on clay courts, 19 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)

He is also scheduled to play in Doha (Qatar ExxonMobil Open) on the 17th of February and () on the 29th of December.

Zverev at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025

Currently ranked no.2 (career-high), the German achieved a compiled 7-0 match record in 2025. Zverev is currently competing at the Australian Open where he overcame the world no.103 Lucas Pouille 6-4 6-4 6-4, the world no.44 Pedro Martinez Portero 6-1 6-4 6-1, the world no.92 Jacob Fearnley 6-3 6-4 6-4, the world no.14 Ugo Humbert 6-1 2-6 6-3 6-2 and the world no.11 Tommy Paul 7-6(1) 7-6(0) 2-6 6-1.

Alexander Zverev will compete against the world no.7 Novak Djokovic in the semifinal on Friday at 2:30 pm on Rod Laver Arena. Their current head to head is 8-4 for Djokovic.

Zverev won 24 titles in his career: 8 on hard courts, 8 on clay courts and 8 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)

He is also scheduled to play in Buenos Aires (Argentina Open) on the 10th of February and Rio De Janeiro (Rio Open) on the 17th of February.

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev faced off 12 times. Their current record is 8-4 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time they played each other, Novak Djokovic won 7-6(5) 7-5 in the semifinal in Cincinnati (Western & Southern Open) in August 2023.

You can see them in action in the following highlights.

Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev

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