Zverev reaches first Australian open final after Djokovic retires
Alexander Zverev advanced to the finals of the Australian Open after a win against Novak Djokovic, who retired due to injury.
The German tennis player Alexander Zverev progressed to the finals of the Grand Slam tournament, the Australian Open. In the semifinal, he faced Novak Djokovic, winning the first set 7-6 (7-5). The Serbian player, struggling with a thigh injury, retired after the first set.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam tournament winner, and a ten-time champion of the Australian Open, was vying for his first ATP win since 2023. Last year, he secured an Olympic gold medal in Paris, which was his sole achievement. During the quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic required a medical timeout. He entered the match against Zverev with a bandaged left thigh, which impacted his performance.
Zverev defends Djokovic
Zverev admitted that Djokovic’s decision to retire was a surprise to him but noted the opponent's struggles with movement. The German defended the Serbian player, who faced booing from the public.
For the 27-year-old Zverev, this marks his first Australian Open final in his career. Previously, he was eliminated in the semifinals in 2020 and 2024. He has lost in the finals of the US Open 2020 and French Open 2024.
In the second semifinal, ATP ranking leader Jannik Sinner will face American Ben Shelton. The match will take place on Friday at 7 PM GMT.
