At the Australian Open semifinal, Novak Djokovic faced Alexander Zverev in what many anticipated to be a thrilling match. However, the match took an unexpected turn when Djokovic had to retire after losing the first set 7-6 to Zverev due to a leg injury. The Serbian, who was aiming to secure his 11th title at the Australian Open and a record 25th Grand Slam title overall, was already seen with heavy strapping on his left leg, which he injured during his quarterfinal victory against Carlos Alcaraz.
As Djokovic walked off the court towards the locker room, the crowd at Rod Laver Arena reacted with a mixture of boos and applause. Despite giving two thumbs-up to the fans, Djokovic couldn’t escape the chorus of boos. This adverse reaction underscores the complex relationship Djokovic has had with the Melbourne crowd over the years. His decision to retire wasn’t entirely unexpected; Djokovic had not practiced on-site the days leading up to the semifinal and expressed concerns about his physical condition.
Alexander Zverev, who secured his place in his first Australian Open final, expressed his surprise at Djokovic’s retirement. He urged the crowd not to boo and highlighted Djokovic’s significant contributions to the sport over the past two decades. Zverev’s sportsmanship in defending Djokovic was evident when he acknowledged the Serbian’s perseverance and past achievements despite his ongoing struggles with injuries.
Novak Djokovic’s record quest has now faced another setback, leaving questions about his legacy and whether he can surpass Margaret Court’s 24 Grand Slam titles. This defeat also prevented him from achieving his 100th career title, a milestone only Roger Federer has surpassed among male players. Meanwhile, Zverev’s victory has set the stage for him to compete for his first Grand Slam title, head-to-head against either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the finals.
In the broader context of tennis history and sportsmanship, Djokovic’s struggle has added another chapter to the narrative of resilience and the physical demands top athletes endure in their pursuit of greatness. As the final approaches, all eyes will be on the next chapter of the Australian Open.
Zverev at the Australian Open, ranking, and results in 2025
Currently the world no.2 (career-high), Zverev owns a 8-0 record in 2025. Zverev is participating at the Australian Open where he toppled 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, the world no.11 Tommy Paul 7-6(1) 7-6(0) 2-6 6-1 and the world no.7 Novak Djokovic 7-6(5) ret..The German 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 in 2025
Currently the world no.7, the Serbian played his last match on the 24th of January when he had to retire when playing against world no.2 Alexander Zverev in the semifinal and the scoreline was 7-6(5) .
This season Djokovic has a composed 7-2 record. Novak Djokovic’s latest run at the Australian Open was the best achievement of his season.
He is also scheduled to play in Doha (Qatar ExxonMobil Open) on the 17th of February and () on the 29th of December.
Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic clashed against each other 13 times. Their head to head is 8-5 for Djokovic.