Novak Djokovic has been booed off Rod Laver Arena, with the tennis legend retiring injured from his Australian Open semi-final against Alex Zverev after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5).
With the semi-final into a first-set tiebreak, Djokovic’s error clinched the set for Zverev and the ten-time champion immediately retired, stunning the centre court crowd who had paid upwards of $500 to witness the clash.
Boos continued to ring out as Djokovic interacted with his supporters inside the famous arena before leaving the court.
Speaking to Channel Nine in his on-court interview, Zverev admonished the booing and defended his long-time adversary.
“The very first thing I want to say is, please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury,” Zverev said.
“I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see, hopefully, a great five set match and everything. But you gotta understand that Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given the sport for the past 20 years, absolutely everything of his life.
“He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear. He has won this tournament with a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue a tennis match, it really means that he cannot continue a tennis match. So please be respectful and really show some love for Novak as well.”
A frustrated Djokovic fronted media post-match, raising doubts over a return to Melbourne Park next January.
“Towards the end of the first set I started feeling more and more pain, and it was too much for me to handle at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried,” he said.
“If I won the first set, maybe I would try a few more games, half a set, but it was getting worse and worse.
“There is a chance (it’s my last Australian Open), who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going but whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure.
“I normally like to come to Australia and play and I’ve had the biggest success in my career here, so if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come, but there’s always a chance.”
The crowd’s reaction was also slammed by legend John McEnroe on Nine’s coverage.
“He’s won this ten times, I mean come on,” McEnroe said.
“The guy clearly… you know, clearly something was up. The guy’s a battler. Him and (Rafael Nadal) have dug deeper than any two players I’ve ever seen – mentally, physically, you name it. So to do that, deciding he couldn’t go on, after what he’s done here, I thought was absolutely ludicrous, honestly.
“That was almost as depressing as seeing the end of the match. Too bad.”
Former world No.33 John Millman shared the American’s sentiment.
“The crowds have been questioned a lot and rightly so,” Millman said.
“I just think it’s a bit of a shambles. Some of the (crowd) behaviour has crossed the line and that one takes the cake for me. This is a guy that’s won it ten times. Have some respect. He’s one of the all-time greats, if not the greatest to play.
“He’s definitely the greatest to play on this court. I don’t care how much you’ve spent on your ticket – have some respect.”
Zverev has qualified for his first AO and third grand slam final, the German to face either No.1 seed and reigning champion Jannik Sinner or up-and-coming American Ben Shelton in Sunday’s decider for the chance to win his first-ever major title.
Never far from controversy at Melbourne Park, Djokovic’s war of words with Channel Nine reporter Tony Jones made headlines earlier this week as he continues to receive mixed reactions from Australian crowds.
The 37-year-old was infamously sent home by the Australian Government prior to the 2022 Australian Open due to not receiving the mandated COVID-19 vaccine.
