In a surprising turn of events, Novak Djokovic withdrew from his Australian Open 2025 semifinal against Alexander Zverev on Friday after losing the first set 6(5)-7(7), citing injury. Djokovic had been visibly in discomfort during his quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz, sparking speculation that he might have been exaggerating his pain to throw off his opponent. The Serbian had also canceled his practice sessions before the semifinal and is reportedly dealing with a hamstring injury. He had a last-minute practice session with Andy Murray just 90 minutes before the match to assess his condition.
Though Djokovic initially appeared to be fit enough to compete in the semi-final, his movement was clearly restricted during the first set, leading him to end points quickly to minimize running. Ultimately, Djokovic retired after the first set, leaving both Zverev and the crowd at the Rod Laver Arena in shock and disbelief.
As the crowd began to boo Djokovic, the Serbian responded with a thumbs-up as he walked off the court. The injury, which he sustained to his left leg during his match with Alcaraz, appeared genuine. Zverev, during his post-match interview, urged fans to show respect for Djokovic, asking them not to boo a legend like him.
Zverev, a two-time Grand Slam finalist, will now face the winner of the match between Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton in the final. The men’s final is scheduled for Sunday, while the women’s final, featuring World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and Madison Keys, will take place on Saturday. Sabalenka will aim to become the first woman since 1999 to win three consecutive Australian Open titles.