Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, has retired from his semifinal match in the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev after suffering a muscle tear in his left leg. After Zverev secured an 81-minute first set tiebreak victory, Djokovic, who was wearing heavystrapping on his left thigh due to pain, carefully made his way to the net and conceded the match, allowing Zverev to secure Sunday’s final spot.
The Rod Laver Arena crowd booted Djokovic as he stepped off the court, and he responded with a thumbs-up gesture. Djokovic admitted that despite medication, braces, and physical therapy, pain worsened towards the end of the first set, making it impossible to continue. He expressed frustration at how quickly his body was getting injured in recent years.
Zverev, who will face defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final, praised Djokovic during his interview, emphasizing the importance of respect for players dealing with injuries. Djokovic is seeking an 11th Melbourne Park title and aims to recover for next week’s Doha tournament, where his participation depends on his recovery timeline.
Source: https://www.espn.com/tennis/story/_/id/43541740/alexander-zverev-australian-open-final-djokovic-retires