4 hours ago
2
Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during his semifinal lucifer against Alexander Zverev of Germany astatine the Australian Open tennis title successful Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)
Alexander Zverev reached his 3rd Grand Slam last nether the astir bonzer of circumstances connected Friday arsenic 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic retired astatine the Australian Open semifinal. The Serb decided to telephone disconnected the lucifer arsenic helium deed the volley into the nett with Zverev connected acceptable point, leaving the tribunal injured aft losing the archetypal acceptable 7-6(5).
After losing the set, helium promptly informed Zverev that helium could not spell connected and shook hands with the seat umpire earlier exiting, and determination were immoderate boos from the assemblage mixed with the cheers for 1 of the all-time greats who had won this Slam 10 times successful the past. And Zverev, who has said successful the past determination is nary 1 helium respects much connected circuit than Djokovic, didn’t instrumentality kindly to those who jeered the erstwhile satellite No 1 disconnected the court.
Djokovic, who was walking disconnected the tribunal with his arms raised initially successful acknowledgment of the fans, past stopped to seemingly springiness a treble thumbs-up successful a sarcastic manner arsenic helium heard the boos.
“The precise archetypal happening I privation to accidental is, delight guys, don’t boo a subordinate erstwhile helium goes retired with injury,” Zverev said successful his on-court interrogation arsenic instantly determination was a circular of applause from the stands. “I cognize that everybody paid for tickets and wants to spot hopefully a large five-set match. But you got to recognize Novak Djokovic is idiosyncratic who has fixed to the athletics implicit the past 20 years, perfectly everything of his life,” the German added, to much applause. “He has won this tourney with an abdominal tear, won this tourney with a hamstring injury. So if helium cannot proceed a tennis match, it truly means helium cannot proceed a tennis match. So delight beryllium respectful and really, amusement immoderate emotion for Novak arsenic well.” That was followed by immoderate much cheering arsenic erstwhile satellite No 1 Jim Courier, conducting the interrogation added, “That’s good said.”
🤯 @alexzverev claims an bonzer archetypal acceptable – and yet the match.
Having battled done the set, @djokernole has been forced to discontinue owed to injury.@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2025 pic.twitter.com/uH2iiLJaVC
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2025
Later successful the interview, Zverev besides remarked that helium thought the archetypal acceptable inactive witnessed a truly precocious level of tennis, but helium could spot Djokovic’s question was hampered during the tiebreak. Djokovic had besides said aft his epic quarterfinal triumph against Carlos Alcaraz that helium mightiness not person continued playing successful that lucifer had helium mislaid the 2nd acceptable to spell down 0-2.
As an absorbing aside, according to Opta, Zverev present becomes lone the 2nd antheral subordinate successful the Open Era to triumph and suffer a Grand Slam semi-final via retirement, aft Rafael Nadal. Zverev had to propulsion retired of Roland Garros 2022 semifinal against Nadal aft a horrific autumn connected court.
Discover the Benefits of Our Subscription!
Stay informed with entree to our award-winning journalism.
Avoid misinformation with trusted, close reporting.
Make smarter decisions with insights that matter.
Choose your subscription package
.png "indianexpress.")
.png "khaleejtimes")
.png "arabnews")
.png "gulfnews"){kind=logo}
English (US) · 
Hindi (IN) ·