Novak Djokovic has hinted at the possibility of never playing the Australian Open again following his heartbreaking retirement during the semi-finals due to a muscle tear. The 37-year-old, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, retired after losing the first set 7-6 (7/5) to Alexander Zverev.
With his left leg heavily taped after sustaining an injury in the quarter-finals, Djokovic left Melbourne Park to a mixed reaction of boos and applause as Zverev advanced to his first Australian Open final.
“There is a chance. Who knows,” Djokovic said when asked about returning to the tournament. “I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So if I’m fit, healthy, and motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance, yeah.”
This setback marks Djokovic’s fifth consecutive Grand Slam without a title, his last triumph coming at the 2023 US Open. The Serb also missed out on the chance to claim his 100th career title, further casting doubt on his pursuit to surpass Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 Grand Slam titles.
Despite the disappointment, Djokovic praised his performance during the tournament, saying, “I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played in the last 12 months. A lot of positives to take in terms of how I played. I wish Sascha (Zverev) all the best. He deserves his first Slam. I’ll be cheering for him.”
Zverev Advances to Final Amid Mixed Crowd Reactions
Alexander Zverev, who ended 2024 as world number two, now faces either world number one Jannik Sinner or American Ben Shelton in Sunday’s final.
Zverev, reflecting on his opponent’s legacy, criticized sections of the crowd for booing Djokovic. “Novak Djokovic is somebody who has given the sport absolutely everything for the past 20 years. So please be respectful and really, really show some love for Novak as well,” he stated.
The German played a determined semi-final, saving multiple break points and claiming the first set in a tiebreak. Djokovic’s withdrawal after the set sealed Zverev’s spot in his first Melbourne final, marking another step in his resurgence following a severe ankle injury.
With Djokovic’s future at the Australian Open uncertain, the tournament bids farewell to one of its greatest champions, who has redefined success on its courts over the past two decades.
