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Novak Djokovic admitted there is a “chance” he has played at the Australian Open for the final time after retiring injured from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev.

The 37-year-old, who was bidding to win a 25th grand slam title and become the oldest men’s champion of all time, conceded the match after losing the first-set tiebreak to Zverev, to a chorus of boos on the Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic sustained a muscle tear in his upper left leg during his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday and admitted he did not have anything left in the tank after attempting to play through the pain.

The 10-time Australian Open champion has now exited the tournament in the semi-finals for the second consecutive year, while last year’s French Open run was also ended by injury after sustaining damage to his knee ligaments.

Novak Djokovic dramatically retired from his Australian Open semi-final to a chorus of boos from sections of the Rod Laver Arena crowd as opponent Alexander Zverev called for “respect” to be shown to the 10-time champion.

Djokovic immediately shook hands with Zverev upon losing the first-set tiebreak after struggling with a torn muscle in his upper left leg, sustained in his quarter-final comeback over third seed Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday.

The 37-year-old, who was bidding to become the oldest grand slam champion of all time in Melbourne, held his thumbs up as he departed the court but there were a few jeers from the crowd as the match ended far earlier than expected.

Djokovic’s wait for a record 25th grand slam title goes on. Although he won the Olympics in August, his last title at the grand slams was the US Open in September 2023, and his retirement here means injury has cost the Serbian a chance at the trophy in two of the last five grand slam tournaments.

2024 Australian Open: Lost in semi-finals to Jannik Sinner

2024 French Open: Withdrew from tournament due to knee injury

2024 Wimbledon: Lost in final to Carlos Alcaraz

2024 US Open: Lost in third round to Alexei Popyrin

2025 Australian Open: Retired in semi-finals against Zverev with leg injury

Djokovic said after his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz that he would have retired from the match if he had lost the second set.

He now says he would have tried to continue against Zverev if had had won the first set, but admits the idea of playing four or even five sets was too much.

“I didn’t hit a ball since Alcaraz match, so until like an hour before today’s match. I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had, medications and the strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today.

“But towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.

“If I won the first set, maybe I would try a few more games, half a set, maybe a set. I don’t know. It was getting worse and worse.

“I knew even if I won the first set, that it’s going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him in the rallies, you know, for another God knows what, two, three, four hours.

“I don’t think I had that, unfortunately, today in the tank.”

Djokovic is already through to his post-match press conference. He is asked whether this could be his final Australian Open, with Djokovic turning 38 in May.

“There is a chance, who knows. I will have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going but whether I’m going to have revised schedule or not, I don’t know. If I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I will always come here.”

Alexander Zverev on Novak Djokovic’s injury and the respect he has for the 24-time grand slam champion.

“I actually thought it was quite a high level first set. I mean of course you notice some difficulties and the more you keep playing the worse it gets. In the tiebreak he was maybe not moving as well as he was during the first set. I thought we had extremely long, physical rallies. In the tiebreak I maybe did see him struggle a bit more. But look, I’m happy to be in the final of the Australian Open, through to the final of a grand slam.

“On the other hand, to be completely honest, there’s no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak, he has been one of the my closest friends on tour and whenever I have struggled he has been there to text and been there for advice. I was speaking to him for hours last year after I was struggling mentally after the US Open. I wanted this to be five sets. He’s won this tournament 10 times and I respect him a lot.”

Not the way that Alexander Zverev wanted to reach his first Australian Open final.

“The very first thing I want to say is please guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury. I know that everybody paid for tickets and wants to see a five-set match but you got to understand Novak Djokovic is somebody who for the past 20 years has given his life to tennis. 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, he cannot continue a tennis match. So please guys, be respectful. Show some love for Novak as well.”

Classy words from the German.

And there goes the chance for a 12th Australian Open and 25th grand slam. Cruel.

That’s the match. Extraordinary finish.

Djokovic waves to the crowd and puts his thumbs up.

Zverev is through to the final.

DJOKOVIC NETS ON THE SIMPLE FOREHAND ON SET POINT.

AND HE AND ZVEREV ARE SHAKING HANDS AT THE NET! DJOKOVIC HAS RETIRED!