Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title was cut short by injury in his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev. The Serbian star, battling a muscle tear, was forced to retire after losing a grueling first set, leaving the door open for Jannik Sinner to face Zverev in the final.
Novak Djokovic's Australian Open dream ended in injury heartbreak as he was forced to retire from his semifinal clash against Alexander Zverev on Friday. The 37-year-old Serbian, playing with a heavily taped leg, battled valiantly but ultimately succumbed to a muscle tear, calling it a day after losing a grueling first set to the German second seed. Djokovic's exit to boos left defending champion Jannik Sinner to face Zverev for the title in Sunday's final.
Top-ranked Sinner, meanwhile, powered past Ben Shelton 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-2 in the second semifinal to set up the Italian showdown.Sinner, who saved two set points in a marathon first set, showed his resilience and grit, ultimately proving too strong for the high-octane American. Despite a sluggish start, Sinner's determination paid off, securing the opening set on a tiebreak before swiftly dismantling the remaining two sets. 'But he was also suffering today a little bit in his legs. So I tried to move him around, tried to stay a little bit more aggressive which today helped a lot,' Sinner explained of his win. 'For three sets. Two and a half hours is quite a time. So happy to finish today in three,' the Italian said. 'But, you know, as I said, I'm very happy to be back in the finals and then we see what is coming Sunday.'Djokovic's early exit leaves his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title shattered, extending his drought to five major tournaments without a victory. The Serbian legend, a 10-time Melbourne champion, lamented the cruel twist of fate. 'I actually thought I played really well, as well as I played the last 12 months,' he said. 'It is what it is. There is always a chance. Who knows?' Djokovic said when asked if he may have graced the Melbourne Park courts for a last time. 'I normally like to come to Australia to play. 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,' he added. The future remains uncertain for the Serbian star, but his legacy as one of the greatest tennis players of all time is secure
NOVAK DJOKOVIC ALEXANDER ZVEREV AUSTRALIAN OPEN INJURY SEMI-FINAL Jannik SINNER GRAND SLAM
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