Novak Djokovic's quest for his first Grand Slam title in 16 months came to a heartbreaking end at the 2025 Australian Open. After the opening set, an injury forced him to withdraw from his semi-final match against Alexander Zverev.
Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev: a thrilling first set ends with Zverev leading
The match had begun thrillingly, with both players showcasing their best tennis during an intense 82-minute first set. Djokovic, the 10-time Australian Open champion and seventh seed, battled fiercely against Zverev, who was eager to reach his first Grand Slam final. After a hard-fought tiebreak, Zverev emerged victorious with a 7-5 scoreline, claiming the lead in the match.
Unfortunately for Djokovic, an injury soon proved too severe to overcome, resulting in his withdrawal and ensuring Zverev’s place in the final. The German player will now face either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the showdown on Sunday, January 26.
Novak Djokovic's future remains uncertain
In the aftermath of the match, Djokovic was asked about the possibility of returning to the Australian Open in 2026. The 37-year-old star did not provide a definitive answer but hinted at the possibility of retiring in 2025. Despite the uncertainty, Djokovic expressed a deep connection to the tournament, which has been a consistent source of success throughout his career.
“I don’t know. There is a chance. Who knows? I will 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. I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here. So I’m fit, healthy, motivated. I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance, yeah,” Djokovic stated during his post-match press conference.
Injury plagues Novak Djokovic's progress
The world number seven confirmed that a muscle tear had been the cause of his withdrawal, revealing that the pain became unbearable as the match progressed. Although he attempted to manage the injury with medication, support from the physio, and a strap, Djokovic acknowledged that it was too much to handle during the first set.
“Yes, I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear I had. Yes, medications and I guess the strap, and the physio worked helped to some extent today. But yes, towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was, yes, too much, I guess to handle for me at the moment,” Djokovic explained.
Despite the setback, Djokovic’s long-term goal of capturing a 25th Major title remains intact. The Serbian, whose most recent Grand Slam victory came at the 2023 US Open, is targeting the milestone that will see him surpass Margaret Court to become the most successful male or female singles player in history.