Ironman Djoko dented by nagging leg injury

Injured Novak Djokovic knew he could not continue while carrying a leg injury, with the 10-time Melbourne titlewinner retiring in pain against Alexander Zverev in their Australian Open semi-final on Friday.

The 37-year-old Serb fought for 81 minutes before conceding 7-6 (5) to the German now into his third final at a major.

Djokovic said he picked up the problem during Tuesday’s quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz and had not been on court until a brief warm-up before his match with Zverev.

While hoping for the best, the 37-year-old could not actually guarantee that he would be back at Melbourne Park, venue for nearly half of his Grand Slam titles.

“There is a chance (he won’t return), who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes. 

“I want to keep going. But whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure”

But Djokovic added: “I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had thebiggest success in my career here. 

“So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come.

But there’s always a chance.”

The Serb explained that the leg problem was only getting worse as the 81-minute opening set went on.

“I knew even if I won the first set, that it’s going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him in the rallies, , for another God

knows what – two, three, four hours?”

“I don’t think I had that, unfortunately, today in the tank.”

he 24-time Grand Slam champion detailed his team’s efforts to try and get him ready for the Zverev matchup.

“I did everything I possibly could to basically manage the muscle tear …medications, strapping and the physio work helped to some extent today. 

“But towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment.

“Uunfortunate ending, but I tried.”