Novak Djokovic retires versus Alexander Zverev: 2025 Australian Open semi-final result from Rod Laver Arena

N. Djokovic vs A. Zverev | Australian Open

Men's Singles | Semi-final | 24.01.2025 | Rod Laver Arena

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N. Djokovic (7)

A. Zverev (2)

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07:00

THE BIG STORY ON DAY 13: NOVAK DJOKOVIC IS OUT OF THE 2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

For UK readers just waking up, we've got huge news from Down Under.

The 10-time champion, Novak Djokovic lost the first set of his semi-final with Alexander Zverev in a tie-break - and then retired injured.

Djokovic forced to retire injured in semi-final against Zverev - Australian Open highlights

Video credit: TNT Sports

The Serb admitted the thigh problem sustained in the win over Carlos Alcaraz was too much and even suggested it could be his last match at Melbourne Park if 2025 does not go to plan.

Djokovic says 'there's a chance' he's played last Australian Open after injury retirement

Video credit: TNT Sports

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

06:55

ALEXANDER ZVEREV IS A MAN IN DEMAND!

06:40

NOT SO GR-EIGHT

It is the 14th retirement of Djokovic's career and only his fourth since 2011.

It is the Serb's seventh at a Grand Slam.

06:35

HAPPIER TIMES FOR NOLEFAM: THE BEST OF DJOKOVIC IN HIS VICTORY OVER ALCARAZ

The four-set success over Carlos Alcaraz ends up being the highlight of Djokovic's latest campaign Down Under.

Watch some of his best, mind-blowing points.

'Out of this world!' - Top 5 shots from Djokovic's thrilling win over Alcaraz

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

06:25

MUST-READ: KEY LINES FROM NOVAK DJOKOVIC MEDIA CONFERENCE AFTER AO RETIREMENT

Novak Djokovic has admitted that "there is a chance" that he could have played his last ever match at the Australian Open after he retired during his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

The world No. 7 had just lost the first set 7-6(5) on Rod Laver Arena, and he immediately conceded defeat, clearly suffering with the muscular injury in his left leg that he had sustained in the quarter-finals.

"If I won the first set, maybe I would try, I don't know, a few more games, half a set, maybe a set," the Serb said.

"It was getting worse and worse. I knew even if I won the first set, that it was going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him in the rallies for another God knows what, two, three, four hours.

"I don't think I had that in the tank."

Read the best of what the Serb had to say via Oli Gent's write-up here.

Australian Open men

Djokovic says 'there's a chance' he's played last Australian Open after injury retirement

24/01/2025 at 06:25

Djokovic says 'there's a chance' he's played last Australian Open after injury retirement

Video credit: TNT Sports

Stream the 2025 Australian Open live and on-demand on discovery+

06:15

DID YOU KNOW?

06:10

VIDEO: THE BEST OF THE ACTION PRIOR TO DJOKOVIC'S SHOCK RETIREMENT AGAINST ZVEREV

It was an attritional first set lasting a whopping one hour and 21 minutes.

Sascha edged it 7-5 in a breaker, which led Novak to offer a premature handshake as a result of the thigh injury he sustained in the four-set win over Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight.

Djokovic forced to retire injured in semi-final against Zverev - Australian Open highlights

Video credit: TNT Sports

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

06:07

DJOKOVIC TALKS ANDY MURRAY AND HIS WISH FOR ALEXANDER ZVEREV

A couple more takeaways from Djokovic's press conference.

On Zverev's bid for a maiden major title, he said: "Zverev deserves his first Slam. I will be cheering for him and hope he gets it here."

Asked about his link-up with rival turned coach, Murray, he added: "I will have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me. But we still didn't decide about the next steps."

Image credit: Getty Images

06:00

FULL REPORT: NOVAK DJOKOVIC OUT OF THE 2025 AUSTRALIAN OPEN

Novak Djokovic’s bid for a record 25th major title ended in the semi-finals in Melbourne after the Serbian player was forced to retire with a leg injury after losing the opening set to Alexander Zverev in a tie-break.

It means the German advances to his first Australian Open final and third Grand Slam showpiece overall, where he will meet either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton.

Read Becky Hart's report on a story that has shocked this year's tournament Down Under.

Australian Open men

Djokovic retires injured after one set to send Zverev through to final

24/01/2025 at 06:40

05:55

WILL THE COLLABORATION WITH COACH ANDY MURRAY CONTINUE BEYOND THE AO?

It remains to be seen whether Sir Andy will remain part of Djoker's team in the weeks and months ahead.

The noises from both player and coach were positive, but now they will have time to reflect and decide on the next steps, which will be crucial if Djokovic is to push on after a promising start to 2025 was curtailed by this muscle injury.

05:50

DJOKOVIC DID A GOOD JOB DISGUISING THE EXTENT OF THE ISSUE IN THAT FIRST SET

At times the Serb's movement seemed fine, but on some shots he was surprisingly off-colour, and in hindsight that was obviously telling.

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

05:43

GRAND SLAM FOCUS: NO JOY DOWN UNDER - NEXT STOP ROLAND-GARROS?

Djokovic may have missed out on a record-extending 11th AO crown, but he will look to regroup, get fit and be ready to chase that elusive 25th stand-alone singles major in the sport at The French Open in May/June.

A further line from the Serb's press conference shows he is as determined as ever:

"I will continue to fight to win more Grand Slams."

Image credit: Getty Images

05:38

POST-MATCH CHAT: ZVEREV DISAPPOINTED WITH A SMALL NUMBER OF FANS AS NOVAK RETIRES

The Serb's decision to withdraw from this semi-final after just one set due to a muscle tear was booed by some members of the crowd - and it didn't sit well with the No.2 seed.

Watch his on-court interview below.

'Please don't boo' - Zverev pleads with fans after Djokovic retires injured

Video credit: TNT Sports

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

05:35

NOVAK DJOKOVIC IS ALREADY SPEAKING ABOUT HIS DECISION TO RETIRE FROM THE SEMI FINAL

The Serb has been talking to the media after calling it quits after just one set of his showdown with Alexander Zverev.

"I didn't hit any ball from Alcaraz until an hour before today's match," he said.

"I did everything I could to manage my muscle tear. But towards the end of the set, I felt more and more pain. It was too much in the end. I tried."

Asked if it could be his last time playing at Rod Laver Arena, he added:

My last Australian Open? I don't know. It's possible.

"I'll see how the season goes. I want to continue."

Watch shock moment Djokovic retires injured against Zverev in 'great shame'

Video credit: TNT Sports

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

05:26

PHOTO: A TOUGH MOMENT FOR THE 10-TIME AUSTRALIAN OPEN CHAMPION

Image credit: Getty Images

05:19

DID YOU KNOW?

Zverev is only the second male player in the Open Era to win and lose a Grand Slam semi-final via retirement, after Rafael Nadal - one of whose wins also came against Alexander Zverev (RG 2022).
Sascha becomes just the seventh active player to have reached the Australian Open men’s singles final – Djokovic (10), Medvedev (3) and Cilic, Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Wawrinka (all one).
The 27-year-old is just the third German man in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open final.

Watch and stream the 2025 Australian Open live on Eurosport and discovery+

05:16

REACTION: ZVEREV PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE INJURED DJOKOVIC

"Please, guys, don't boo a player who leaves the court with an injury. I know everyone paid to be here and expects to see a great five-setter. But you have to understand that Novak Djokovic has given his all for this sport for 20 years.

"There's no one I respect more on the tour than Novak. I've always been able to send him a message, call him when things weren't going well. He helped me a lot. Last year in Shanghai, when things weren't going well after the US Open, we talked for hours."

05:12

A SAD MOMENT FOR NOVAK; A BREAKTHROUGH ONE FOR SASCHA

Zverev is into his maiden final here and his third Grand Slam final overall.

Will it be third time lucky for the German after losing in his previous two major finals?

The No.2 seed will meet Sinner or Shelton in Sunday’s final.

Image credit: Getty Images

05:09

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - DJOKOVIC 5-7 ZVEREV – Djokovic retires

The pursuit of a stand-alone 25th major is over.

Novak Djokovic came into the match suffering with a leg problem he sustained in the win over Alcaraz and was below his usual high standards.

The first-set was obviously crucial in his eyes, and after a gruelling one hour and 21 minutes just for the opener, he obviously felt he wouldn't be able to turn it around.

05:07