A dejected Novak Djokovic Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Novak Djokovic has retired injured after losing the first set 7-6(5) against Alex Zverev on Friday to put the German through to his first Australian Open final.
Zverev will meet the winner of the Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton match in Sunday's decider as he bids for his first Grand Slam title.
Djokovic's long wait for a record 25th major title will go on, a year after he exited Melbourne Park with a semi-final loss to Sinner.
There were doubts about his fitness ahead of the match and he came out at Rod Laver Arena with his left thigh strapped.
But there was little indication Djokovic was struggling until late in the set when he noticeably began trudging slowly between points and muttering in frustration at his players' box.
After losing the set, he promptly informed Zverev that he could not go on and shook hands with the chair umpire before exiting to a chorus of boos from the crowd.
"The very first thing I want to say is, please guys, don't boo a player when he goes out with injury," Zverev said in his on-court interview.
"I know that everybody paid for tickets and wants to see hopefully a five-set match.
"He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, won this tournament with a hamstring injury.
"So please show some respect."
Noval Djokovic prepares to shake hands with Alexander Zverev after withdrawing from the match. Photo: AFP / Martin Keep
Nine commentator John McEnroe was critical of the crowd for booing when the chair umpire announced the Serbian could no longer continue.
As he exited the arena, he raised two thumbs toward the crowd.
"They can't be booing him, for God's sake," McEnroe said in commentary.
"He has won this 10 times. Unreal."
Former Australian player John Millman has also slammed fans.
"The crowds have been questioned a lot and rightly so," Millman said on Nine.
"I don't care how much you've spent on your ticket, have some respect."
Novak Djokovic at his post-match interview at the Australian Open this evening. Photo: AFP / Adrian Dennis
In his post-match interview, Djokovic has shed some light on why he retired.
"I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear I had," he said.
"An unfortunate ending, but I tried."
He also described the match as an "uphill battle" and that he didn't hit a ball since his match with Carlos Alcaraz until his warm-up 90 minutes before the semifinals.
When asked if this was his last Australian Open, Djokovic said: "I don't know. There is a chance."
-Reuters / ABC
