The 37-year-old Serbian maestro, Djokovic, withdrew from his tightly contested semi-final against Alexander Zverev of Germany after just one set.

The titanic first set, which lasted for an hour and 21 minutes, turned out to be Djokovic’s last in this year’s campaign Down Under, as he was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury. The former Olympic champion, Zverev, won the set in a tiebreaker before the ten-time champion at the Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic, retired.

Alexander Zverev shows respect to Novak Djokovic in his postgame interview after advancing to the Australian Open Finals. pic.twitter.com/zZPSHLrUzi

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 24, 2025

For Zverev, this victory secures his place in the final of the men’s singles at the Australian Open for the first time. It will also mark his third Grand Slam final appearance after reaching the championship matches at the US Open in 2020 and the French Open in 2024.

“The very first thing I want to say is please, guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury,” said Zverev. “I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see, hopefully, a great five-set match and everything, but you’ve got to understand – Novak Djokovic is somebody who has given this sport absolutely everything for the past 20 years.

‘So please be respectful’

“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear; he has won this tournament with a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue a tennis match, it really means that he cannot continue. So please be respectful and really show some love for Novak as well.”

The tall German player added that while he is thrilled to reach the final Down Under for the first time, he has immense respect and admiration for Djokovic, whom he considers a dear friend.

Novak Djokovic retires due to injury after dropping the first set 7-6 ??

Alexander Zverev advances to the Australian Open Finals!#AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/YLMJINXYMj

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 24, 2025

“Of course, I’m happy on one side to be in the Australian Open final – I’m in the final of a Grand Slam,” said Zverev. “But on the other hand, being 100% honest, there’s no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak. He’s been one of my closest friends on tour.

“Whenever I struggled, I could always text him, call him, and ask for advice. I spoke to him for hours last year in Shanghai when I was really struggling mentally a little bit after my US Open quarter-final defeat. He’s always been someone who has helped me a lot.

‘It is what it is’

“I wanted it to be a tough five-set match as well, but it is what it is. He’s won this tournament ten times.”

Zverev will play the winner of the semi-final between defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner of Italy and Ben Shelton of the USA in Sunday’s final.

The semi-final between Sinner and Shelton is set to begin at 10:30 on Friday morning.

OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg