Alexander Zverev slams disrespectful crowd for booing Novak Djokovic after his retirement from Australian Open semifinal
Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Australian Open after losing the first set against Alexander Zverev due to an injury.
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Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev (Images via Screengrab/X)
At 37, World No. 7 Novak Djokovic was still a contender to win the Australian Open. He battled past several opponents, even four-time Grand Slam champion Carlos Alcaraz, but it was an injury that defeated him.
After fending off the Spaniard in the quarterfinals, the Serb was up against another tough opponent, Alexander Zverev, in the last four on Friday (January 24). Just after the first set, Djokovic gave up and retired from the match. Fans obviously were disappointed, for they didn’t foresee this happening.
The crowd inside the Rod Laver Arena, who anticipated a thrilling five-set match, could only watch the crestfallen Djokovic walk out of the court. But a section of the crowd chose this opportunity to boo him, following which Zverev urged them not to disrespect the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Please, guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury. I know everyone paid for tickets and everyone wants to see a five-set semifinal, but Novak has given absolutely everything of his life to the sport the last 20 years.
Alexander Zverev said during the on-court interview
Djokovic is a 10-time Australian Open champion, last lifting the title in 2023. Last year, he crashed out of the tournament following his four-set defeat in the semifinal to eventual winner Jannik Sinner.
He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear. He has won this tournament with a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue a tennis match, he cannot. Be respectful. Really, show some love for Novak as well.
Alexander Zverev added
Zverev on some of the crowd booing Djokovic after retiring from Australian Open
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 24, 2025
“Please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury. I know everyone paid for tickets.. but Novak has given everything of his life to the sport the last 20 years”
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Alexander Zverev to lock horns with Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in final
After receiving the walkover from Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev advanced to the Australian Open final for the first time. The two-time Grand Slam finalist’s next opponent is Jannik Sinner or 21st seed Ben Shelton.
Against the World No.20, Zverev is 1-0 in their head-to-head meeting. They clashed in the quarterfinal of the 2024 Cincinnati Masters, which Zverev won in three sets.
Zverev has won four of the six matches he played against the World No.1. But the defending champion defeated the 27-year-old in their last meeting in the semifinal of the 2024 Cincinnati Masters before lifting the title.
If the two-time Grand Slam champion reaches the final, then it will be for the fourth time he will be meeting the World No.2 in Major tournaments following the 2020 French Open, 2021 US Open, and the 2023 US Open.
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Gouri Das
(4753 Articles Published)