Injury Shatters Dream, Tearful Farewell from Djokovic, Melbournians Moved to Tears

Injury Shatters Dream, Tearful Farewell from Djokovic, Melbournians Moved to Tears

Melbourne, Australia: Due to injury, Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic walked off the court midway through his Australian Open semifinal match. On Friday, he retired after playing just one set against Germany’s Alexander Zverev at the Rod Laver Arena.

After losing the first set 7-6 (5), Djokovic walked over to the net, shook hands with Zverev, and headed straight to the locker room. Despite the injury, Djokovic smiled and gave a thumbs-up to the spectators, responding to their boos.

Forced to Retire Due to Leg Injury

In a press conference, Djokovic revealed that his left leg, taped for support, had been increasingly painful, making it impossible to continue playing.

He said, "I knew, even if I won the first set, it would be impossible to play the next sets. It's unfortunate."

Another Milestone Interrupted for Djokovic

Djokovic was aiming for his 11th Australian Open title and a record 25th Grand Slam trophy. However, this marks the second time in the past four Grand Slams that he was forced to retire due to injury.

"I know statistics have been against me in recent years. But I'll keep going. As long as I want to keep playing, I will fight on," said Djokovic.

Zverev's Victory and Message to Fans

After the match, Zverev said, "The fans need to understand that Novak Djokovic has given his life to this sport over the last 20 years. In times like this, they should stand by him."

Zverev to Face Sinner or Shelton in the Final

For the first time in Melbourne Park, Germany's Alexander Zverev has reached the final. On Sunday, he will face either Italy's Jannik Sinner or the United States' Ben Shelton in the final.