Novak Djokovic's 2025 Australian Open campaign has come to an end at Melbourne Park, retiring from his semifinal against Alexander Zverev after dropping the first set 7-6(5).
The ten-time champion had been dealing with an upper leg injury following his victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday evening, but despite every effort to recover, he was unable to overcome the pain.
"I did everything I possibly [could] to basically manage the muscle tear that I had," Djokovic told the press.
"Medications...the strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today. But...towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment."
Djokovic who missed a point-blank volley on set point to gift Zverev the opener, admitted that he may have continued if he'd taken a one-set lead.
"If I won the first set, maybe I would try, I don't know, a few more games, half a set, maybe a set. I don't know. It was getting worse and worse.
"I knew even if I won the first set, that it's going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him in the rallies, you know, for another God knows what, two, three, four hours.
"I don't think I had that, unfortunately, today in the tank."
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Djokovic further suggested that this may be the last time we see him at Melbourne Park; a decision that will depend on the remainder of his 2025 season.
"There is a chance [that it's his last Australian Open]. Who knows? 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."
If it is to be the end, it was a disappointing final reception for the 24-time major champion, booed off Rod Laver Arena from fans who ultimately wanted to see more tennis.
Zverev, speaking to Jim Courier post-match, said the jeering was disrespectful to one of the sport's greatest champions.
“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," the German said.
Djokovic will now return home for further testing before making his return to the tour.
"I have to examine this injury. When I go back home now to Europe, I will get together with the medical team and my physios and try to understand..what we can do and the quickest way to recover and get back on track," he said.
"I still have Doha (ATP 500, starting February 17) 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."
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