Novak Djokovic withdrew due to injury

Novak Djokovic (7th), the legend of the Australian Open with ten crowns, retired injured amid boos this Friday in the semifinals, so Alexander Zverev (2nd) will challenge the current champion Jannik Sinner (1st), expeditiously against Ben Shelton (20th ).

In the first semifinal, Zverev had just won the first set in the tie-break, 7-6 (7/5), after an hour and 20 minutes of battle when Djokovic approached the net and told him that he could not continue.

The Serbian, who received boos and whistles, explained in a press conference that he suffered a “muscle tear” on Wednesday in the quarterfinals against the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz (3rd).

“The medication, the treatment and the bandage helped me, but at the end of the first set I started to feel increasing pain, which was difficult to manage. I tried my chance. If I had won the first set I would have tried to play a few more games, maybe a set, I don’t know,” said the player with 24 Grand Slams on his resume.

Farewell to Melbourne?

The 37-year-old giant left the door open for it to be his last game in Melbourne: “There is a chance that it was like that. Who knows? I’ll have to see how the year goes. I want to continue. If I’m motivated and healthy, I don’t see any reason not to come back.”.

On the court, in the winner’s speech, Zverev came to the defense of Djokovic, who had abandoned her, responding with a raised thumb to the boos at the Rod Laver Arena.

“Please don’t boo any player, much less Novak. He has done everything imaginable for this sport, he has tried to compete despite his problems, I know they have paid an entry fee, but he has been giving everything for this sport for 20 years and won this tournament with a torn abdominal. Show some love,” the 27-year-old said.

“I had to play the best set of the tournament to beat him while he was injured. It’s too good”he added with great respect for the legend.

Sinner the other finalist

In the second round, the current champion Sinner beat Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 and 6-2, his 20th consecutive victory – the best series of his career – in a match in which he suffered cramps muscular.

The Italian finished the duel with a slight limp and received physiotherapy treatments on the court in the final part of a duel that he was able to close against a weak Shelton, unable to take advantage of this circumstance.

The number 1 had left the semi-final on track by winning the tie-break of the first round, in which he had given up his serve on two occasions, recovering it immediately.

Shelton couldn’t stand the pressure, with a succession of errors, and saw his rival go 5-0 up in the tie-break to end up winning 7-2.

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