Djokovic Exits Australian Open Semifinal in Disappointment; Sinner to Face Zverev for Title
Novak Djokovic’s hopes of securing a record 25th Grand Slam title came to a premature end on Friday. The Serbian tennis superstar, heavily taped due to injury, was forced to retire from his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev, leaving the Rod Laver Arena crowd in disbelief and delivering a chorus of boos as he exited the court.
Djokovic’s bid for glory was cut short after a grueling first set that left him visibly struggling with a muscle tear. He ultimately lost the set in a tiebreaker, 7-6 (7/5), before making the difficult decision to withdraw from the match. The 37-year-old, who had previously dominated the tournament with ten titles, now faces uncertainty about his future in the Australian Open.
“I’ve been hampered by a muscle tear,” Djokovic stated after the match, hinting that this might be his last appearance at the Grand Slam event. This retirement marks Djokovic’s fifth consecutive Grand Slam without adding to his tally, as he continues to pursue the elusive record that would place him ahead of Margaret Court’s 24 titles.
Meanwhile, in the second semifinal, defending champion Jannik Sinner showcased his resilience, battling through a challenging match against American Ben Shelton. Sinner, the top seed, triumphed with a decisive score of 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the final. The Italian’s path was not without its challenges; he had to fend off two set points in a marathon opening set that lasted 71 minutes. Once he secured the first set in a tiebreak, Sinner seized control, closing out the match in a swift 85 minutes.
Sinner’s victory sets up a highly anticipated final against Zverev, the tournament’s second seed, who will be vying for his first Australian Open title.
Zverev has reached the Grand Slam finals twice before but is still in search of a major victory. With both players at the top of their game, the final promises to be an electrifying showdown.
