MELBOURNE, Australia — On Sunday morning, Novak Djokovic shared a glimpse of his injured left hamstring via social media, over 24 hours after facing a chorus of boos at the Australian Open. This response came after he withdrew from the semifinals following just one set of play, citing what he described in his press conference as a torn muscle.
The esteemed 24-time Grand Slam champion posted an MRI scan from Saturday on X, adding with a hint of sarcasm, “Thought I’d leave this here for all the sports injury ‘experts’ out there.”
However, Djokovic remained tight-lipped about further details, such as a precise diagnosis or his anticipated recovery timeline.
The 37-year-old athlete halted his match against Alexander Zverev after losing the first set in a dramatic tiebreak. After a brief handshake with Zverev and the chair umpire, Djokovic collected his belongings and headed toward the locker room.
Some fans in Rod Laver Arena reacted negatively, showering him with jeers. Despite this, Djokovic managed to give a thumbs-up as he exited.
During his post-match interview, Zverev boldly defended Djokovic against the booing crowd.
“I understand everyone paid for their tickets and wanted to witness a thrilling five-set battle,” Zverev remarked. “But it’s important to recognize — Novak Djokovic has dedicated his entire life to this sport for the past two decades.”
Djokovic had already begun to feel discomfort late in the first set of his previous match, a four-set triumph over Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals on Tuesday night.
He completed that match with tape visibly securing his upper left leg, a precaution he again utilized as he faced Zverev.
“I did everything within my power to manage the muscle tear I was dealing with,” Djokovic stated at his Friday news conference.
“As the first set progressed, the pain intensified significantly,” he admitted. “Ultimately, it became too overwhelming for me to continue. It’s an unfortunate conclusion, but I gave it my all.”