Novak Djokovic was booed by spectators as he left the court during his semifinal match at the Australian Open against Alexander Zverev after quitting one set into the match due to a torn muscle in his left leg. Djokovic, a 37-year-old 20-time Grand Slam champion, was in pain and decided to withdraw after losing the first set. He was bidding for his 11th title at the Australian Open. This was the second time in four major tournaments that Djokovic has been forced to withdraw due to injury.
Zverev went on to reach the final, where he will face the winner of the other semifinal match. During an on-court interview, Zverev asked the fans not to give Djokovic a hard time, acknowledging the Serbian’s contributions to the sport over the past two decades.
Djokovic, who underwent surgery for a knee injury last year, expressed uncertainty about his future participation in the tournament and his coaching arrangement with Andy Murray. Despite his recent injury setbacks, Djokovic remains committed to his goals and will continue to strive for more Grand Slam titles.
The only set of the Djokovic vs. Zverev match lasted 1 hour and 21 minutes and included lengthy baseline exchanges and numerous nine-stroke rallies. Djokovic’s physical struggles were evident throughout the match, and he ultimately had to withdraw due to the increasing pain in his leg.
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