Injury forces Djokovic to quit AO semi-final

Novak Djokovlc lasted 81 minutes and one set in a gruelling semi-final with Alexander Zverev before the 10-time Australian Open winner had to pull the plug due to leg injury pain on Friday.

The muscle tear which the 37-year-old suffered 72 hours earlier in a win over Carlos Alcaraz was too serious for the 24-time Grand Slam winner to carry on.

He went for the handshake with world No. 2 Zverev after the German won their opening set 7-6 (5) as Djokovic muffed a volley into the top of the net on set point.

The Serb said that he had not hit since beating Alcaraz on Tuesday save just prior to Friday’s match and underwent all possible treatments to be ready to take to the court.

Zverev will wait for a Sunday finals opponent as defending champion and top seed Jannik Sinner plays Ben Shelton.

Djokovic drew some boos from a disappointed Laver showcourt crowd – which  received an immediate rebuke from Zverev.

“You don’t boo a player,” the German said. “Novak has given the sport absolutely everything over the past 20 years, 

“He’s won at Grand Slams with a muscle tear. If he can’t continue, it really means he is injured.”

Zverev called the abbreviated match “quite a high-level first set.”

“But there are some difficulties when the longer you play the worse (the injury) gets.

 “We had long, physical rallies. I thought he was moving well but in the tiebreak I saw him struggle a bit more.”

Zverev, now into his third Grand Slam final and first in Melbourne, could not help but express satisfaction with his own performance.

“I’m happy to be in the final, there is now one I respect more than Novak.

“He’s one of my closest friends on the Tour, I can alaway ask him for advice.

“I wanted a tough five-setter, but I have nothing but respect for Novak. I played him in 2021 (here) when he had an abdominal tear and he served 28 aces.”

Djokovic missed out on the chance to join former rival Roger Federer with 100 career  wins in Melbourne

Zverev’s success was his first defeat of Djokovic at a Grand Slam following three defeats including her four years ago when the Serb played hurt.