Novak Djokovic provided a concerning update regarding his injury, casting significant doubt on his ability to compete in the semifinal of the Australian Open against second seed Alexander Zverev. During the initial two sets of his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, Djokovic exhibited physical difficulties and required a medical timeout, subsequently returning with his upper left thigh heavily bandaged.

After an intense three hours and 37 minutes of play on Rod Laver Arena, where he secured a remarkable victory with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, Djokovic refrained from discussing his injury issues during the on-court interview, yet he raised concerns about his recovery ahead of the semifinal scheduled for Friday.

At 37 years of age, Djokovic had exited the court while trailing 4-5 in the first set and faced challenges throughout much of the second set, displaying signs of discomfort while moving. Nevertheless, he elevated his performance towards the end of the second set and outmanoeuvred Alcaraz in the subsequent sets, all while taking two additional painkillers to secure his win.

"Since I’m still in the tournament, I prefer not to disclose too much," Djokovic remarked. "However, the medication began to take effect, which certainly helped. I had to take another dose. It sounds terrible! Me need another dose. But it was necessary.

"Honestly, I was uncertain if I would continue playing had I lost the second set. Fortunately, I started to feel progressively better and managed to play exceptionally well in the final games of the second set."

The Serbian player acknowledged that while the painkillers were proving effective, he noticed Carlos Alcaraz exhibiting caution during their baseline exchanges, which motivated him to elevate his performance.

He remarked, "I observed that Carlos was somewhat hesitant from the back of the court, and I seized the opportunity to improve my game and enhance my movement. Therefore, it did not affect me negatively; it only posed a challenge during the second set."

Nevertheless, he expressed uncertainty regarding his readiness for the upcoming match against Zverev. Djokovic stated, "Clearly, once the medication begins to wear off, I will assess the situation tomorrow morning. For now, I will focus on the present and savour this victory."

Djokovic maintains a strong 8-4 record against the German in ATP competitions, including a 3-0 advantage in Grand Slam matches.

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