Failed with injury, reviled by the audience: Novak Djokovic has to give up at the Australian Open, which gives Alexander Zverev the chance to win a Grand Slam title for the third time. The task could hardly be more difficult with Jannik Sinner.
Of course, it was a sad sight that Novak Djokovic saw as he left the Rod Laver Arena on Friday afternoon. He, who has triumphed here ten times, more often than any other tennis professional, and whom they probably only love more deeply in his home country of Serbia than here, slowly crept into the catacombs. And he, whom they had cheered here as only fellow countrymen usually do, was farewelled with boos. People were disappointed because this semifinal against Alexander Zverev started like a historic five-hour battle – and yet it was over after 81 minutes. After losing the tiebreak of the first set – yes, it took so long, that’s why it looked like a match of epic proportions – Djokovic went to Zverev and shook his hand.
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