Novak Djokovic's pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title ended prematurely in the Australian Open semifinals when a left leg muscle tear forced him to retire after just one set against Alexander Zverev. The Melbourne crowd expressed their disappointment with boos as Djokovic conceded the match, a reaction that drew criticism from both Zverev and commentator John McEnroe.

Djokovic, having lost the first set, acknowledged the crowd with a thumbs-up gesture as he exited the court. Zverev, however, immediately addressed the spectators, urging respect for the injured player. He reminded them of Djokovic’s dedication to the sport over two decades and his history of playing through injuries, including previous Australian Open victories while battling abdominal and hamstring tears. Zverev emphasized that Djokovic's retirement signaled a genuine inability to continue.

McEnroe echoed Zverev’s sentiments, expressing disbelief at the crowd's reaction. He highlighted Djokovic's renowned resilience and his and Rafael Nadal's shared reputation for pushing through physical limitations. McEnroe found the booing disrespectful and disheartening, considering Djokovic's ten Australian Open titles.

Djokovic explained that the injury, initially sustained during his quarterfinal match against Carlos Alcaraz, worsened progressively during the semifinal. He admitted the pain became unbearable, forcing his retirement. He acknowledged the difficulty of continuing even if he had won the first set.

This incident follows Djokovic's withdrawal from last year's French Open quarterfinals due to a torn meniscus in his right knee, requiring subsequent surgery. Despite this setback, he reached the Wimbledon final and secured an Olympic gold medal for Serbia shortly after.

Zverev's advancement marks his first Australian Open final and his third Grand Slam final overall, following appearances at the French Open and the U.S. Open.