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Full Presser: Novak addresses early exit | 10:27
Novak Djokovic has pulled the pin at the Australian Open.
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The Serbian could have won his 100th Australian Open match in the men’s semi-final on Friday and been on track to win his 11th Australian Open crown, but the 37-year-old retired with an injury after losing the first set in a tie-break to Alexander Zverev 7-6 (7-5).
Djokovic told a packed post-match press conference that he had done “everything” he possibly could to manage a muscle tear he had before stepping on to the court but the pain was “too much” for him to handle.
“Towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain,” he said.
“Unfortunate ending, but I tried.”
Djokovic had shaken Zverev’s hand after the first set in what many just assumed was good sportsmanship among the two friends, but the chair umpire stunned the crowd when he announced the match would not be going any further.
As Djokovic left the court, there was loud booing.
News.com.au watched one person boo dramatically with arms in the air and both thumbs down, while others nearby immediately complained of paying $400 to witness just one set and criticised the tennis star for not seeking a medical time-out with treatment in an attempt to continue.
In an interview with Serbian media, the 10-time Australian Open champion said he could understand why people who had paid to attend the semifinal were upset but he was clearly injured.
“I don’t know what to say… people have come, they paid for the tickets expecting a great match and a big fight, which they didn’t get,” he said.
“From that perspective, I can understand. I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to understand me.
“I know how my body works, what I feel, and I know how much I’ve given to this tournament in the past 20 plus years. I will stop here, so that I don’t continue in the wrong direction.”
Djokovic, meanwhile, responded to the criticism he received from American great John McEnroe, who said he was exaggerating the injury during his quarterfinal with Carlos Alcaraz.
“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this routine. Don’t be fooled,” McEnroe said.
Asked to comment, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said he had not seen the criticism from McEnroe.
“To be honest, I haven’t seen these comments, so I can’t say more,” he said.
“What I can say is that it’s always easier to judge and criticize than to understand. It’s a lesson I’ve learned in life“.
Even Zverev’s first words to the crowd after the win were to condemn the booing.
“The very first thing I want to say is please don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury,” the German, 27, said.
“I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see hopefully a great five-set match, but you’ve got to understand Novak Djokovic is somebody who has given this sport for the past 20 years absolutely everything.
“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, he has won it with a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue a tennis match it means he really cannot continue a tennis match.”
The pair were seen embracing before the chair umpire announced to the crowd that Djokovic pulled out due to injury. Picture: David Gray / AFPSource: AFPNews.com.au spoke to fans who had paid hundreds of dollars for a ticket and were both disappointed the match came to an abrupt end and more understanding of Djokovic’s decision.
One mother and daughter duo who were visiting from overseas dropped $1200 on tickets.
“We flew over from Singapore so it’s really sad to not see a five-setter but equally we felt so bad everyone was booing because as if he wouldn’t want to win another Australian Open title,” the mum said.
While she had fortunately seen some other matches, her 12-year-old daughter skipped school and flew in just for the one match in what was her very first Australian Open.
One Aussie who flew over from Perth and paid $300 for the day session and $700 for the night session also took aim at the booing.
“I thought it was pretty poor for the crowd booing him,” he said.
“I’m a big Zverev fan after that speech as well. I think he (Djokovic) did pretty well to hold his own with the injury.”
Zverev had said he did not even notice his opponent was struggling with an injury.
Zverev‘s first words after his win were to condemn the crowd booing his opponent and friend. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp AustraliaOne couple said their tickets were worth about $800 each.
“Bit of an anticlimax was our first thought. Probably worst case scenario of what could have happened,” one woman said.
Her partner added: “It’s disappointing. We were hoping to be here for about three or four hours for five sets but that’s what happens.”
Djokovic revealed to reporters that “there is a chance” he would not be back at the Australian Open.
“I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going, but whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure,” he said.
“I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance.”
Djokovic spoke to a packed press room after the match. Picture: Mark StewartSource: News Corp AustraliaHe promised to “keep striving to win more slams”.
“And as long as I feel that I want to put up with all of this, I’ll be around,” he said.
He wasn’t sure how long he would be out with this injury, and will get together with his medical team to examine the situation when he is back home in Europe.
“I still have Doha tournament in few weeks’ time that is scheduled. Whether I’m going to play it or not, it really does depend on how quickly I recover,” he said.
“But I had success with quick recoveries in the past. Let’s see. It just depends on the muscle and how it responds to the treatment.”
Djokovic said he would be cheering for Zverev to win the slam.
Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton will go head to head at Rod Laver Arena on Friday night to determine who plays Zverev in the men’s singles final on Sunday.
