Novak Djokovic said on Friday there was a chance he could have played his final Australian Open after retiring with a torn muscle in the semi-final to leave his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam crown in tatters.
The 37-year-old’s left upper leg was heavily recorded again after injuring it in the quarter-final and the Serbian called it quits after losing the first set 7-6 (7/5) to Alexander Zverev.
Djokovic left the court to a mix of boos and applause as the German reached his first Melbourne final.
“There’s a chance. Who knows,” Djokovic said when asked if he had graced the courts at Melbourne Park for the last time.
“I’ll have to see how the season goes. I want to continue. But whether or not I’ll have a revised schedule for next year, I’m not sure.
“I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the greatest success of my career here. So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see the reason why I wouldn’t come “, he added.
“But there’s always a chance, yes.”
Djokovic has now gone five Grand Slams without winning the title he needs to surpass Margaret Court’s 24 and become the all-time leader.
He failed to collect one for the first time in seven years in 2024, with his latest finish at the 2023 US Open casting further doubt on whether he will ever make it to court.
His agony in the semi-final also deprived him of a 100th career title.
“I actually thought I played really well, as well as I’ve played the last 12 months, to be honest,” he said of his tournament run.
“I liked my chances if I was physically fit and ready to fight. I think I was hitting the ball really well. Lots of positives to take based on how I played.
“I wish Sascha (Zverev) all the best. You know, he deserves his first slam. I’ll be cheering for him.”
– Boos for djokovic –
Zverev’s reward is a matchup in Sunday’s showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton.
While the German has been a Grand Slam finalist twice before, at last year’s French Open and the 2020 US Open, he has never been to the final in Melbourne.
Last year, at the same semi-final stage, he crashed to Daniil Medvedev in five sets after holding a 2-0 lead.
But he entered the season with renewed vigor after finishing 2024 as world number two, winning more matches than anyone else and returning to his best after a horrific ankle injury.
Zverev said it was bad form for some of the Boo Djokovic crowd off court.
“Novak Djokovic is someone who has given absolutely everything of his life to sport for 20 years,” he said in an on-court interview.
“So be respectful and really, really show some love for Novak.”
Djokovic approached the clash with questions about his physical condition after needing medical attention during his four-set quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz.
But he has demonstrated remarkable powers of recovery more than once during his career and it doesn’t seem to hinder him initially.
The Serbian moved with his customary zip in an opening service game that featured a 27-shot rally to save four break points.
It was then Zverev’s turn to save three break points and keep the match in service at 2-2, with both players blowing hot and cold.
Another break point went begging for the German at 4-4, with Djokovic barely getting 50% of his first serves.
It went to a tight tiebreaker where Djokovic scored a simple volley to give Zverev the set and he then approached the German to shake hands.
PM/PST
