India, Feb. 7 -- In Melbourne, Novak Djokovic appeared determined to secure an unprecedented 11th Australian Open title. The Serbian player triumphed over Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals, paving the way for a semi-final encounter with Alexander Zverev. However, after dropping the first set against the German, he withdrew from the match due to injury, eliciting boos from the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic had shown signs of discomfort during his victory over Alcaraz, leading some fans, including tennis legend John McEnroe, to accuse him of feigning injury to unsettle his opponent. In the post-match press conference, he disclosed that he had suffered a muscle tear and shared an image of his medical scan on social media. Subsequently, ESPN evaluated the scan and concluded that he would likely be sidelined for a few months due to a torn hamstring, with a potential return in May at Roland Garros.

However, recent reports suggest that he may return sooner than anticipated. According to Sportal, Djokovic was in Belgrade last week receiving essential treatment and therapy. The 37-year-old is reportedly feeling improved and has expressed his intention to compete at the Qatar Open, although he has yet to commence training. He is expected to travel to Doha to acclimatize to the conditions and prepare for the ATP 500 tournament.

Since his triumph at the 2023 US Open, Djokovic has not secured any Grand Slam titles. In the previous year, his only achievement was winning gold at the Paris Olympics.

There are speculations regarding his potential retirement following this season. In a recent interview, he disclosed that his father has been urging him to consider retirement. In a conversation with GQ Sports, he expressed, "I feel as though people are already composing my tennis obituary. The media, the fans... and I am uncertain if he will appreciate my saying this, but I will state it nonetheless: the first person to do so is my father."

"My father has been suggesting that I retire for a while, though he has not been overly forceful. He respects my choice to continue and certainly understands my reasons for wanting to persist, but he often asks me: 'What else do you wish to pursue?' He is aware of the significant pressure and tension I face, as well as the stress that impacts my health, my body, and ultimately, everyone around me, including him. That is why he advised me: 'My son, begin contemplating how you wish to conclude this," he elaborated.

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