TV Host Apologizes To Djokovic Over “Offensive” Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Novak Djokovic has retired from his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev after struggling with injury.

The 37-year-old lost the first set on a tiebreak to second seed Zverev and immediately went to shake hands after putting a simple volley into the net on set point.

Djokovic had been out of sorts and appeared to struggle with his left leg throughout the opening set, which was 81 minutes long. The Serbian picked up the injury during his four-set win over Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals.

He admitted he was “concerned” by his physical condition and was forced to skip training before his playing his semi-final, where injury denied him the chance to compete for a record 25th grand slam title.

Later, Jannik Sinner squares off against Ben Shelton in the second of the men’s singles semi-finals, as the World No 1 and reigning champion continues his title defence against the big-serving American.

Follow the latest updates from the Australian Open semi-finals in our live blog below:

Djokovic’s growing trend of injuries at grand slams

Djokovic’s wait for a record 25th grand slam title goes on. Although he won the Olympics in August, his last title at the grand slams was the US Open in September 2023, and his retirement here means injury has cost the Serbian a chance at the trophy in two of the last five grand slam tournaments.

2024 Australian Open: Lost in semi-finals to Jannik Sinner

2024 French Open: Withdrew from tournament due to knee injury

2024 Wimbledon: Lost in final to Carlos Alcaraz

2024 US Open: Lost in third round to Alexei Popyrin

2025 Australian Open: Retired in semi-finals against Zverev with leg injury

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 06:02

Djokovic on Australian Open retirement

Djokovic said after his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz that he would have retired from the match if he had lost the second set.

He now says he would have tried to continue against Zverev if had had won the first set, but admits the idea of playing four or even five sets was too much.

“I didn’t hit a ball since Alcaraz match, so until like an hour before today’s match. I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had, medications and the strap, and the physio work helped to some extent today.

“But towards the end of that first set I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.

“If I won the first set, maybe I would try a few more games, half a set, maybe a set. I don’t know. It was getting worse and worse.

“I knew even if I won the first set, that it’s going to be a huge uphill battle for me to stay physically fit enough to stay with him in the rallies, you know, for another God knows what, two, three, four hours.

“I don’t think I had that, unfortunately, today in the tank.”

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:40

Djokovic retires from Australian Open semi-final

Djokovic is already through to his post-match press conference. He is asked whether this could be his final Australian Open, with Djokovic turning 38 in May.

“There is a chance, who knows. I will have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going but whether I’m going to have revised schedule or not, I don’t know. If I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I will always come here.”

(Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:31

Djokovic retires from Australian Open semi-final

Alexander Zverev on Novak Djokovic’s injury and the respect he has for the 24-time grand slam champion.

“I actually thought it was quite a high level first set. I mean of course you notice some difficulties and the more you keep playing the worse it gets. In the tiebreak he was maybe not moving as well as he was during the first set. I thought we had extremely long, physical rallies. In the tiebreak I maybe did see him struggle a bit more. But look, I’m happy to be in the final of the Australian Open, through to the final of a grand slam.

“On the other hand, to be completely honest, there’s no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak, he has been one of the my closest friends on tour and whenever I have struggled he has been there to text and been there for advice. I was speaking to him for hours last year after I was struggling mentally after the US Open. I wanted this to be five sets. He’s won this tournament 10 times and I respect him a lot.”

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:25

Djokovic retires from Australian Open semi-final

Not the way that Alexander Zverev wanted to reach his first Australian Open final.

“The very first thing I want to say is please guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury. I know that everybody paid for tickets and wants to see a five-set match but you got to understand Novak Djokovic is somebody who for the past 20 years has given his life to tennis. He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, he has won this tournament with a hamstring tear, if he cannot continue a tennis match, he cannot continue a tennis match. So please guys, be respectful. Show some love for Novak as well.”

Classy words from the German.

(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:19

Djokovic retires from Australian Open semi-final

And there goes the chance for a 12th Australian Open and 25th grand slam. Cruel.

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:15

Djokovic retires from Australian Open semi-final

That’s the match. Extraordinary finish.

Djokovic waves to the crowd and puts his thumbs up.

Zverev is through to the final.

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:08

Djokovic v Zverev LIVE: Australian Open updates

DJOKOVIC NETS ON THE SIMPLE FOREHAND ON SET POINT.

AND HE AND ZVEREV ARE SHAKING HANDS AT THE NET! DJOKOVIC HAS RETIRED!

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:07

Djokovic v Zverev LIVE: Australian Open updates

Novak Djokovic 6-6 Alexander Zverev

Djokovic replies to a Zverev ace with one of his own out wide. Djokovic then finds the lob over Zverev after the big German was dragged in short by the drop-shot! Djokovic 5-4 ahead.

Two big points for Zverev on serve. He finds the big serve down the middle on the first, and Djokovic can’t return. Zverev has to adjust to the net-cord from Djokovic, eventually finding the forehand strike past Djokovic.

Suddenly it’s set point Zverev at 5-6, but with Djokovic to serve.

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:07

Djokovic v Zverev LIVE: Australian Open updates

Novak Djokovic 6-6 Alexander Zverev

Zverev starts off with two big points behind serve, swarming the net to put away the volley and then smash. Djokovic replies with an excellent angled backhand, forcing Zverev into the miss. And he follows it by finding his spot on the wide serve. Zverev misses on the forehand.

Djokovic moves well to reach the Zverev smash, but the German puts away the next overhead.

3-3 at the change of ends.

Jamie Braidwood24 January 2025 05:02

Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *