Novak Djokovic withdraws from Australian Open-Semifinal against Alexander Zverev

Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev due to a muscle recovery he sustained earlier in the tournament.

Zverev had won the opening set in a tiebreak at Rod Laver Arena when Djokovic made the decision to withdraw after an hour and 21 minutes on the field.

He sustained the left upper leg injury during his quarterfinals victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night.

“I did everything I could at all to handle the muscle tearing I had,” Djokovic told his media conference shortly after leaving the field.

Djokovic added: “(It was) an unfortunate ending but I tried.”

When he left the field and recognized the spectators inside Rod Laver Arena, there were parts of the audience boring the Serb.

The 10-time Australian Open champion said he had not beaten a ball after his win in four sets over Alcaraz before an hour or so before his match against Zverev.

Djokovic had undergone treatment since Tuesday night and had ties on the left thigh in the semi -finals.

“Towards the end of the first set, I just began to feel more and more pain,” Djokovic said.

“It was too much to cope with me at the moment.”

Djokovic said he was unsure if he would have tried to continue the match if he had won the first set against Zverev.

“If I won the first set, I might try a few more matches, half a set, maybe a set,” he said.

“I don’t know. It got worse and worse.

“I knew, though I won the first set that it would be a huge match uphill for me to stay physically in shape enough to stay with him in the rally for further … two, three, four hours.

“I don’t think I had it, unfortunately today in the thought.”

Djokovic, who turns 38 in May, said it was too early to say if this would be his last Australian Open.

“I don’t know. There’s a chance. Who knows?” said the 24-double major winner.

“I just have to see how the season is going. I want to stay on. But whether I need a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure.

“I usually 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 a reason why I wouldn’t come.

“But there is always a chance.”

Djokovic, who was seeded in seventh place in Melbourne, said he would consult his team before making a decision on when he would return to the field.

“I have to investigate this damage more.” he said.

“Now that I go home to Europe, I will meet with the medical team and my physiotherapists and try to understand what we can do and the fastest way to recover and get back on track.

“I still have a doha tournament in a few weeks that is scheduled. Whether I have to play it or not, it really depends on how fast I get me.

“But I had success with quick improvements earlier. Let’s see.

“It just depends on the muscle and how it responds to the treatment.”

Zverev said it was unfair for spectators that Buh Djokovic, considering what he has achieved during his career.

“At one point there is a limit to how much you can take,” Zverev said.

“So I think we should stop blaming Novak. Novak has done absolutely everything he could on the tennis court for the past 20 years.”

Zverev is on to his third big finale and his first at Melbourne Park.

The second seed will meet either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in Sunday’s final.