Melbourne, Australia (APP) – a injured Novak Djokovic Leave it due to the spatted muscles in her left leg after falling the first set Australian Open Against the semi -finals Alexander Zurio On Friday.
Djokovic lost the opener 7-6 (5) and immediately to recognize the match from Zurio and shake his hand. Walk around the net. Spectators stressed When the 37 -year -old Djokovic walked towards the Locker, he stopped, turned and replied with two thumbs.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacted on Friday, January 24, 2025, during a semi -final match against Germany’s Alexander Zurio at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in Melbourne, Australia.
At his news conference, Djokovic said his left leg pain was “getting worse and worse.” He hurt him during his quarter -finals on Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday night and wore a white tape around his upper leg against Zurio.
Djokovic said, “I knew, even if I won the first seat, it would be a great battle for me.”
He was bidding for the 11th Championship at the Australian Open and recording a total of the 25th Grand Slam title. But this is the second time in the last four major tournaments when he was unable to end due to injury: He was withdrawn from last year’s French Open Before the quarter -finals after tearing down the mensics in your right knee during a match.
Djokovic a few days later and immediately. Of the surgery Reached the final In the following Major, Wimbledon, then Won gold medal for Serbia At the Paris Olympics.
On Friday, he was asked if this could be his last hearing at Melbourne Park.
“There is an opportunity. Who knows? “Djokovic said.” I just have to see how the weather goes. I want to continue.
No. 2 seed Xavorio arrived in his first title match at Melbourne Park and will face the winner of the second semi -final on Friday between No. 1 on Sunday. Junk sinner Of Italy, defending champions, and number 21 Ben Shelton Of the United States
Zurio is a two -time runner -up in other major tournaments, which lost the final in five seats in the 2020 US Open and 2024 French opened.
“First of all I want to say: Please, when they go out with an injury, they don’t grow a player,” Zurio told Rod Liver Arena during an interview in his court. “I know everyone paid tickets and everyone hopes to see an excellent match of the five sets. But you have to understand – Novak Djokovic is a person who has played this game for the past 20 years, everything in his life.
The only set of Djokovic vs Zoorio lasted for 1 hour, 20 minutes and included 19 points, which continued to stroke or more. The first four games continued for only 31 minutes.
During his semi -final match at the Australian Open Tennis Championship in the Australian city of Melbourne on Friday, January 24, 2025, Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns to Germany’s Alexander Zurio. (AP Photo/NG Han Guan)
It was sad – and would have been without dealing with a problem with one’s body. But for Djokovic, everything was very much with the thigh, which became a problem late in the first set against the first alkaraz.
Djokovic said, “I did not hit the ball since today’s match like an hour.” The medicines and I guess (tape) and physio work helped some extent today. But towards the end of this first set, I just started to feel more pain and I had a lot to handle. Unfortunately, I tried. “
Zurio said he could feel “some dent” on the other side of the net in the tie breaker, and he saw that Djokovic “was probably struggling”.
In Melbourne Park two years ago, Djokovic suffered a injury to his left hamstring but still managed to leave with the trophy. Against Alakaraz, he was below a seat against someone who is 16 years old but won.
This time, Djokovic did not escape like this.
If he cannot continue the tennis match, it really means that he cannot continue the tennis match. So, please be respected, “Zurio said to the fans.” And really show some love to Novak. ”
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Howard Fandrich has been AP’s tennis author since 2002. Find their stories here: https://apnews.com/author/howard-fendrich. More AP Tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
