Novak Djokovic has hinted he could retire from tennis after being forced to withdraw from his Australian Open clash with Alexander Zverev on Friday.
The tennis icon opted to withdraw after losing the first set 6-7 (5-7), just days after he’d battled past Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic had previously opted against practicing on both Wednesday and Thursday amid fears he could worsen his condition.
With the 37-year-old struggling against Zverev, however, he ultimately opted to quit with his hopes of a record 25th Grand Slam title going up in smoke.
Novak Djokovic has hinted he could retire from tennis after being forced to withdraw from his Australian Open clash with Alexander Zverev on Friday
REUTERS
Speaking after the match, Djokovic was asked about his future.
And the former world No 1 hinted that there was a ‘chance’ that he’s played Down Under for the last time.
“I don’t know. There is a chance. Who knows? I will have to see how the season goes,” he said.
“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.”
However, Djokovic did insist that he would ideally like to play at the Australian Open again – having won the tournament 10 times over the years.
“I normally like to come to Australia to play. I’ve had the biggest success in my career here,” he continued.
“So I’m fit, healthy, motivated. I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come. But there’s always a chance, yeah.”
Some fans might feel Djokovic only quit against Zverev because he was injured.
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Yet the tennis legend insists he did ‘everything I possibly can’ to play on, with the pain ultimately proving too much.
“Yes, I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear I had,” he insisted.
“Yes, medications and I guess the strap, and the physio worked helped to some extent today.
“But yes, towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain.
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Novak Djokovic lost the first set against Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open
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“It was, yes, too much, I guess to handle for me at the moment. Yes, unfortunate ending, but I tried.”
With Djokovic pulling out, Zverev is now through to the final.
The German will be making his third Grand Slam final appearance, having lost his previous two.
Zverev was unable to get the better of Dominic Thiem at the US Open in 2020, losing 6–2, 6–4, 4–6, 3–6, 6–7.
Novak Djokovic was visibly in pain during his Australian Open clash with Alexander Zverev
REUTERS
And Carlos Alcaraz beat the 27-year-old 3–6, 6–2, 7–5, 1–6, 2–6 to win his first major at the US Open in 2022.
Zverev will lock horns with either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the final.