Novak Djokovic’s quest for an 11th Australian Open title and a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title ended prematurely as he retired after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5) to Germany’s Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.
The 37-year-old Serb, playing with a heavily taped left leg due to a muscle tear sustained in his quarter-final match, cited escalating pain that made continuing impossible.
Djokovic acknowledged the fans with a double thumbs up before exiting the court.
Zverev, still chasing his first Grand Slam title, will face either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the final.
