Alexander Zverev surprised by the support of Novak Djokovic for him at Australian Open
World No.7 Novak Djokovic retired from the semifinal match he played against World No.2 Alexander Zverev due to an injury.
Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev (Images via AUSOpen/X)
Alexander Zverev is into the 2025 Australian Open final for the first time. He received a walkover from Novak Djokovic in the semifinal as the Serb suffered from a muscle tear and was forced to retire following the first set which Sascha had won.
At the press conference, Djokovic then expressed his wish to see Zverev become a Grand Slam champion for the first time. The German, before this Australian Open, had made it to the summit clashes of Grand Slam events only twice but failed to win the titles.
He will be meeting World No.1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner in the final. The Italian ace cruised past 21st seed from America, Ben Shelton, in straight sets in the last four to schedule the final clash with the World No.2.
Zverev has met Sinner six times and won four of those matches. But it was Sinner who secured the win in their last encounter, in the semifinal of the 2024 Cincinnati Masters.
Conversation with Novak Djokovic helped Alexander Zverev overcome setback
Alexander Zverev had supported Novak Djokovic when a section of the crowd inside the Rod Laver Arena started to boo him when he retired from the semifinal match.
Later in the press conference, Zverev, while praising Djokovic, talked about a conversation he had with the 24-time Grand Slam champion that helped him come out from a difficult time.
Zverev, after reaching the 2024 French Open final which he lost to current World No.3 Carlos Alcaraz, did not win any title in the next few tournaments he played.
He lost to David Goffin in the fourth round of the 2024 Shanghai Masters, while the Serb progressed to his second ATP final of the season but failed to beat Jannik Sinner. Then after the Vienna Open, the 27-year-old reached the Paris Masters final and won it to clinch his second ATP title of the season.
Gouri Das
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