India, Jan. 24 -- In a move that is likely to enhance his reputation significantly, Alexander Zverev appealed to the audience at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne to refrain from booing Novak Djokovic. The former world number one was forced to retire due to injury immediately after losing a closely contested first set in a tiebreak, thereby granting Zverev a place in the men's singles final. The 37-year-old Serbian star had his upper left leg heavily bandaged following an injury sustained in the quarter-finals and decided to withdraw after trailing 7-6 (7/5). As he exited the court, he was met with a mixed response of boos and applause from the spectators, while Zverev celebrated his first final appearance in Melbourne.

"Please, everyone, do not boo a player who leaves the court due to injury. I understand that everyone has paid for their tickets and wishes to witness a thrilling five-set semi-final, but Novak has dedicated his life to this sport for the past 20 years," Zverev remarked as Djokovic departed.

Emphasizing Djokovic's relentless spirit, the second seed urged the audience to show respect for a champion who has claimed the Australian Open title a record ten times.

"He has triumphed in this tournament despite suffering from an abdominal tear and a hamstring injury. If he is unable to continue a match, it is for a valid reason. Please be respectful and show some appreciation for Novak as well," the German player stated.

This defeat marks Djokovic's fifth consecutive Grand Slam without securing the title necessary to surpass Margaret Court's record of 24 and become the all-time leader.

For the first time in seven years, he failed to win a Grand Slam in 2024, with his last victory occurring at the 2023 US Open, raising further questions about his ability to surpass Court's record.

Additionally, this loss denied him the opportunity to achieve his 100th career title, a milestone only reached by Roger Federer (102), the only player, male or female, to achieve this feat.

Zverev's reward for his victory is a match against either world number one Jannik Sinner or American 21st seed Ben Shelton in the upcoming final on Sunday.

The German player has previously reached the Grand Slam finals on two occasions, specifically at the French Open last year and the US Open in 2020; however, he has yet to compete in a final in Melbourne.

In the semi-finals of the previous year, he faced Daniil Medvedev and was defeated in a five-set match despite having a 2-0 advantage.

Entering this season, he has shown renewed determination, finishing 2024 ranked as the world number two, achieving more victories than all but Sinner, and returning to form following a severe ankle injury.

Novak Djokovic approached the match with concerns regarding his physical fitness, having required medical assistance during his four-set quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz.

Before the match, he expressed apprehension about his physical state.

Nevertheless, Djokovic has repeatedly showcased his exceptional recovery abilities throughout his career, and this did not seem to impede his performance at the outset.

He displayed his usual agility during the opening service game, which included a lengthy 27-shot rally, and later saved four break points despite some inconsistencies in his serve.

Subsequently, it was Zverev's turn to fend off three break points, maintaining the serve at 2-2, with both competitors experiencing fluctuations in their performance.

Another opportunity for a break slipped away for the German at 4-4, as Djokovic struggled to maintain a 50 per cent success rate on his first serves.

The match proceeded to a closely contested tiebreak, after which Djokovic withdrew.

Read Also: Djokovic Withdraws from Australian Open, Zverev Claims Victory

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