The crowd in Melbourne, Australia, was not kind Novak Djokovic Early Friday morning.
In his quest to extend his record by winning a 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic was able to play only one set, and withdrew from his set. Australian Open The semi-final match after suffering a muscle tear in his left leg.
The withdrawal sent Alexander Zverev into Sunday's final against Jannik Sinner, leaving fans disappointed.
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Serbia's Novak Djokovic packs his bags after withdrawing from his men's singles semifinal match against Germany's Alexander Zverev on Day 13 of the Australian Open in Melbourne on January 24, 2025. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)
After losing the match to Zverev, who won the set, fans booed him as he walked out to the locker room.
Djokovic stopped, turned and responded with a thumbs up.
Zverev expressed his disappointment to the fans.
“Don't boo any player when he goes out with an injury. I know everyone has paid for tickets and everyone wants to see a great five-set match, but you have to understand that Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport over the last 20 years,” Zverev said in his Inside interview. Pitch: “Years of his life for sure.”
Serbia's Novak Djokovic is knocked out after his match against Germany's Alexander Zverev in the men's singles semifinals at the 2025 Australian Open at Melbourne Park. (Photos by Mike Fry Imagine)
“He won this tournament with a torn abdomen. He won this tournament with a torn hamstring. If he can't continue a tennis match, that really means he can't continue a tennis match. So, please be respectful.”
John McEnroe added on the call: “They can't boo him. Please! He's won this award 10 times, for God's sake. Unreal…
“I mean, obviously something was going on. This guy is a fighter. I mean he and Rafael (Nadal) put in a deeper effort than any players I've seen. So, doing it because he decided he couldn't go on anymore.” What he did here I think was absolutely ridiculous, honestly that was as frustrating as seeing the end of the game.
Djokovic suffered the injury during his classic five-set match with Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, but said the pain was “getting worse.”
“Towards the end of the first set, I started to feel more pain, and it was too much for me at the moment. So, yeah, an unfortunate ending, but I tried,” Djokovic said.
“I knew that even if I won the first set, it would be an uphill battle for me.”
He withdrew from last year French Open Before the quarter-finals, he suffered a tear in the meniscus in his right knee during a match.
Djokovic underwent surgery two days later and immediately reached the final at the next major tournament, Wimbledon, and then won gold for Serbia at the Paris Olympics.
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts to a point against Germany's Alexander Zverev during their men's singles semifinal match on Day 13 of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24, 2025. (William West/AFP via Getty Images)
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This will be Zverev's first final at the Australian Open and the third final in his career. He also reached the final of the French Open last year as well as the 2020 US Open.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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