Alexander Zverev has reached his first Australian Open final after Novak Djokovic retired following the conclusion of their semi-final’s opening set on Friday in Melbourne. Djokovic, battling a muscle tear in his upper left leg, conceded the match after a closely contested 7-6(5) set that lasted one hour and 21 minutes, propelling Zverev into his third Grand Slam final.
Despite his injury, Djokovic managed to keep the set highly competitive, showcasing his resilience. However, the physical toll became too great, with the Serbian missing a crucial volley on set point during the tie-break. Afterward, Djokovic acknowledged that the pain had intensified beyond what he could endure.
“I did everything I possibly could to manage the muscle tear,” Djokovic explained. “The medications, the strapping, and the physio work helped to some extent, but by the end of the first set, the pain became unbearable.”
Zverev commended the intensity of the opening set, describing it as one of his best performances of the tournament. “I thought it was a very high-level set,” he noted. “Even though I noticed some struggles from Novak, I had to give 100 percent against someone of his caliber.”
This victory places Zverev in his third Grand Slam final, having previously reached the championship rounds at the 2020 US Open and the 2023 French Open. Seeking his first major title, the German will face either Jannik Sinner or Alex de Minaur in the final.
Zverev’s dominant run at this year’s Australian Open has been marked by consistent performances, having dropped only two sets across his six matches. With his powerful serve and composed baseline game, he now hopes to break his Grand Slam final curse and claim the title.
Reflecting on his journey, Zverev said, “I’ve had my tough losses in finals. Maybe this time, luck will be on my side.”
The tennis world eagerly awaits the final to see if Zverev can finally lift his maiden Grand Slam trophy.
