Novak Djokovic was booed off court by a section of disgruntled fans after he was forced to pull out of his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev.
The 37-year-old’s fitness had been a matter of intense speculation ever since his momentous win over Carlos Alcaraz earlier this week.
Djokovic arrived on court wearing heavy strapping on his thigh and initially appeared to be showing no ill-effects.
A cagey set full of long rallies saw both men have chances to break, with Zverev unable to take five break points across two games but recovering from 0-40 in the fourth game.
It was nip and tuck in the tie-break as well until Djokovic netted an easy volley at 5-6 to hand Zverev the set after 80 minutes.
It seemed like the contest was just getting started, but instead Djokovic headed straight to Zverev to shake hands before walking off court to a mixture of jeers and cheers.
The German, who will play in a third grand slam final as he continues to chase a first title, immediately jumped to his opponent’s defence, saying: ‘The very first thing I want to say is please don’t boo a player when he goes out injured.
‘I know that everybody paid for tickets but Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given this sport for the past 20 years absolutely everything of his life.
‘He has won his tournament with an abdominal tear, won this tournament with a hamstring tear, if he feels he can’t continue a tennis match, he can’t continue a tennis match.”
Zverev admitted he was as surprised as the crowd to see Djokovic throw in the towel, saying: ‘I thought it was quite a high level first set. Of course, the longer you continue, the worse it can get and maybe he was not moving as well in the tie-break.
‘Of course, I’m happy to be in the final of the Australian Open but, on the other hand, there’s no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak. Whenever I’ve struggled, I could call him, ask him for advice. I wanted it to be a tough five-set match as well.’
Djokovic’s withdrawal means a premature end to his first tournament with coach Andy Murray and it remains to be seen whether the arrangement will continue.
Of more pertinence, the winner of 24 Grand Slam titles may have played his last game at one of his favourite tournaments and was asked if he would be returning to Melbourne Park next year.
‘There is a chance. Who knows? Djokovic said. ‘I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going.’
Defending his decision to retire, meanwhile, after an energy-sapping first set that lasted one hour and 20 minutes, Djokovic added: ‘I didn’t hit the ball since Alcaraz match until like an hour before today’s match.
‘I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had. Medications and I guess the (tape) and the physio work helped to some extent today.
‘But towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain and it was too much for me to handle. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.
‘It was getting worse and worse. I knew, even if I won the first set, it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me.’
MORE: Novak Djokovic makes decision amid Australian Open withdrawal rumours
MORE: Iga Swiatek slammed for ‘dirty tactics’ in Australian Open loss to Madison Keys
MORE: Australian Open tennis star Ben Shelton calls out disrespectful on-court interviewer
