Zverev advances to Australian Open final as heartbroken Djokovic retires due to injury

Novak Djokovic, aged 37, indicated on Friday that he might have played his final Australian Open after retiring due to a muscle tear during the semi-finals, which dashed his hopes of securing a record 25th Grand Slam title.

The Serbian athlete's upper left leg was once again heavily bandaged following an injury sustained in the quarter-finals, leading him to withdraw after losing the first set 7-6(7/5) to Alexander Zverev.

As Djokovic exited the court, he was met with a mix of boos and applause, while Zverev advanced to his first final in Melbourne.

"There is a possibility. Who can say?" Djokovic remarked when questioned about the likelihood of having played his last match at Melbourne Park.

"I will need to assess how the season unfolds. I wish to continue competing. However, I am uncertain if I will have a modified schedule for the upcoming year.

"I typically enjoy coming to Australia to compete. This is where I have achieved the most significant success in my career. If I remain fit, healthy, and motivated, I see no reason not to return," he continued.

"Nonetheless, there is always a possibility, yes."

Djokovic has now gone five Grand Slam tournaments without securing the title necessary to surpass Margaret Court's record of 24 and become the all-time leader.

He failed to win a title for the first time in seven years in 2024, with his last victory occurring at the 2023 US Open, raising further questions about his ability to surpass Court's record.

His semi-final defeat also denied him the opportunity to claim his 100th career title.

"I genuinely believed I played quite well, as well as I have in the past year, to be honest," he reflected on his performance in the tournament.

"I felt confident in my chances if I had been physically fit and prepared to compete. I believe I was striking the ball effectively. There are many positives to take away regarding my performance.

"I wish Sascha (Zverev) all the best. He truly deserves his first Grand Slam title. I will be supporting him."

Zverev's reward for his victory is a match against either world number one Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton in the final on Sunday.

Novak Djokovic is an individual who has dedicated the entirety of his life to the sport over the past two decades, as stated during an on-court interview.

He urged the audience to show respect and affection for Djokovic.

Entering the match, Djokovic faced concerns regarding his fitness after requiring medical assistance during his four-set quarter-final victory against Carlos Alcaraz.

However, he has consistently exhibited extraordinary recovery abilities throughout his career, and this did not seem to affect him at the outset of the match.

The Serbian player displayed his usual agility during the initial service game, which included a lengthy 27-shot rally, and he successfully saved four break points.

Subsequently, it was Zverev's turn to fend off three break points, maintaining the serve at 2-2, with both competitors experiencing fluctuations in their performance.

Another opportunity slipped away for the German at 4-4, as Djokovic struggled to achieve even 50 percent of his first serves.

The set culminated in a closely contested tiebreak, where Djokovic misplayed a straightforward volley, allowing Zverev to secure the set, after which Djokovic approached him to offer a handshake.