Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts throughout his semifinal match towards Alexander Zverev of Germany on the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Picture/Manish Swarup)
MELBOURNE, Australia — It may very well be tempting to jot down off Novak Djokovic at this level, to suppose he may be nearer than ever to being completed competing for Grand Slam titles and nearer than ever to retirement, the place his biggest on-court rivals — Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray — already reside.
Maybe these types of ideas are pure within the fast aftermath of Djokovic’s exit from the Australian Open semifinals on Friday with a torn leg muscle. He was booed off the courtroom when he give up proper after dropping the primary set towards Alexander Zverev, an abrupt finish to Djokovic’s pursuit of an eleventh trophy at Melbourne Park and an unprecedented twenty fifth main championship total.
Article continues after this commercial
It was the second time previously 4 Slams that Djokovic wanted to desert his spot within the latter levels of the bracket. Finally yr’s French Open, he tore the meniscus in his proper knee throughout a fourth-round victory and withdrew earlier than the quarterfinals, then wanted surgical procedure.
READ: Australian Open: Novak Djokovic retires injured to place Zverev in ultimate
Additionally related to the dialog: Djokovic will flip 38 earlier than this yr’s subsequent main, which begins at Roland Garros in late Could. That was Nadal’s age when he closed his profession in November. Murray, every week older than Djokovic, stopped taking part in final August (and coached Djokovic in Melbourne ). Federer’s final Grand Slam match got here when he was 39, though he didn’t announce he was completed till the next yr.
“How a lot of a fear is it? I don’t know. It’s not like I’m worrying, (when) approaching each Grand Slam now, whether or not I’m going to get injured or not. However statistics are towards me in a manner within the final couple of years,” he acknowledged. “So it’s true that (I’ve been) getting injured fairly a bit the previous few years. I don’t know what precisely is the explanation for that. Possibly a number of various factors.”
Article continues after this commercial
What Djokovic stated subsequent is certain to make his followers comfortable and opponents cautious.
“I’ll maintain going. I’ll maintain striving to win extra Slams,” Djokovic stated. “And so long as I really feel that I need to put up with all of this, I’ll be round.”
Remember that Djokovic acquired damage late within the first set of his earlier match, towards 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, a four-time main champ who’s been ranked No. 1. Regardless of that, Djokovic performed effectively sufficient to erase a deficit and overcome Alcaraz in 4 units.
Preserve this in thoughts, too: Lower than 1 1/2 months after final season’s operation on his knee, Djokovic made all of it the way in which to the ultimate at Wimbledon, the place he misplaced to Alcaraz. Three weeks after that, Djokovic made all of it the way in which to the ultimate on the Paris Olympics, the place he beat Alcaraz to lastly gather the gold medal he’d lengthy needed to deliver residence to Serbia.
Djokovic wasn’t in a position to give a timeline Friday for a way lengthy he’ll be sidelined now. He wasn’t fairly ready to decide to returning to the Australian Open, both, when requested if this might need been his final look, saying: “There’s a probability. Who is aware of? I’ll simply must see how the season goes. … If I’m match, wholesome, motivated, I don’t see a motive why I wouldn’t come.”
READ: Australian Open 2025: Novak Djokovic mentally prepared for Zverev
There’s loads of proof that it’s a mistake to think about Djokovic completed.
Nonetheless, there are going to be those that have doubts about Djokovic’s well being and longevity.
There already had been such questions in some quarters, really, regardless of how nonsensical: On-air remarks by a commentator working for the host broadcaster about Djokovic being overrated and a has-been triggered a stir throughout Week 1 of this Australian Open.
Nobody who is aware of something about Djokovic or tennis would use these phrases.
“Novak has completed completely every little thing he may on the tennis courtroom within the final 20 years,” stated Zverev, who can be searching for his first Grand Slam title when he meets defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s ultimate at Rod Laver Enviornment.
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
“He’s gained this event with an belly tear, the place most gamers can’t even proceed taking part in. He’s gained this event with a hamstring tear,” Zverev stated. “He’s a 10-time champion. We should always all simply respect that, in a manner, as a result of there’s no one on this sport’s historical past who has gained, and who has completed, as a lot as him.”