Novak Djokovic retired injured in his semi-final against Alexander Zverev, sending the German to his first Australian Open final, where he will face Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic’s Injury Leads Him to Withdraw Against Zverev. As a Result, Zverev and Sinner Move Forward to compete in the Australian Open Final.
Alexander Zverev earns his spot in the Australian Open Final after beating Novak Djokovic, who suffered an injury during the semi-finals of the tournament.
It looks like Sinner strengthend his chances of winning the title as he beat american Ben Shelton with a score of 7-6(2) in set one while fortifying his lead by winning set two and three with a score of 6-2.
“I’m just happy to have reached this position again.” said Sinner. “Winning a major trophy feels special and Grand Slams are really important for my career. Finals are all together a different activity and always bring a lot of excitement with them.”
Currently, Sinner jawns op to win the third Grand Slam title while Djokovic remains stagnant with Margaret court at 24 major trophies.
Also Read: Cooper Flagg Signs Exclusive Multi-Year Deal with Fanatics
Djokovic ’s Tough Day
By the time Djokovic faced Zverev, there were some concerns regarding his fitness. His left thigh had heavy taping and he missed a training session after his rigorous quarter-final defeat to Carlos Alcaraz.
As the match commenced, the 37-year-old appeared to be doing quite alright, but the later part of the first set suggested some struggle on his part – with slower movement and clear frustration. After the set was lost in a tiebreak, 7-6(5), the audience was left shocked after Djokovic made his way to the net to shake Zverev’s hand.
Later dwelling on the matter, Djokovic confessed he was unable to catch up physiologically whilst playing with a torn muscle. “Even if I won the first set I knew it was going to be a daunting battle to keep fit enough for two, three or even four hours,” he explained.
While mixed, the crowd’s response had some fans booing him as he was leaving the court. Zverev defended his opponent, urging the audience to be respectful, all too quickly.
Zverev said, ‘Do not jeer at any player who is unable to play through an injury.’ He added, ‘For two decades, Novak has tirelessly worked in this sport and has earned this tournament, even with debilitating injuries. He deserves some respect.’
Also Read: Connor McDavid and Tyler Myers Face Potential Suspensions for Cross-Checking Incidents
Zverev is Captured by Golden Opportunity
The adjustment made in the match seems to work in Zverev’s favor, as he is preparing to participate his very first Australian Open final. The 27-year old has tasted defeat in Grand slams before; loses to Alcaraz in the French Open finals and recently gave up on a 2 set lead against Dominic Thiem in the 2020 US Open finals.
Zverev exhibited an impressive performance in the semi-final matches, remaining calm during the rallies and delivering power in his serves. Even after being unable to convert all of the five break points during his game against Djokovic, he showed remarkable performance in the tie-break.
Also Read: Jets Hire Aaron Glenn as New Head Coach
Sinner Displays Strong Form
It was not easy for Sinner to face American player Ben Shelton during the other semi finals. The Italian did overcome two set points at 6-5, and after that, he showed an inspirational performance in the tie-break winning the next two sets with ease. Although Sinner struggled with his legs in the third set, he managed to win the game with astonishing shots.
As for the final match, Sinner claimed that he anticipates an interesting fight against Zverev. He stated, “Its going to be physical and tough for both of us. We will see what happens.”
The finals of the Australian Open will be a memorable one as Zverev competes with Sinner for his first Grand Slam title, while Sinner’s goal is to bring home another trophy. Both players appear to be in great shape, which means the fans will surely enjoy a spectacular battle on Sunday.
Also Read: Mark Andrews Reflects on Costly Mistakes in Ravens’ Playoff Loss