Australian Open: Injured Djokovic branded greedy, booed off court as Zverev advances final

Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has been booed off Rod Laver Arena, with the tennis legend retiring injured from his Australian Open semi-final against Alex Zverev after losing the first set 7-6 (7-5).
With the semi-final into a first-set tiebreak, Djokovic’s error clinched the set for Zverev and the ten-time champion immediately retired, stunning the centre-court crowd who had paid upwards of $500 to witness the clash.
Boos continued to ring out as Djokovic interacted with his supporters inside the famous arena before leaving the court.
Speaking to Channel Nine in his on-court interview, Zverev admonished the booing and defended his long-time adversary.
“The very first thing I want to say is, please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury,” Zverev said.
“I know everybody paid for tickets and wants to see, hopefully, a great five-set match and everything. But you gotta understand that Novak Djokovic has given the sport for the past 20 years, absolutely everything of his life.
“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, it means that he cannot continue a tennis match. So please be respectful and show some love for Novak as well.”
A frustrated Djokovic fronted media post-match, raising doubts over a return to Melbourne Park next January.
“Towards the end of the first set, I started feeling more and more pain, and it was too much for me to handle at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried,” he said.
“If I won the first set, maybe I would try a few more games, half a set, but it was getting worse and worse.
“There is a chance (it’s my last Australian Open), who knows? I’ll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going but whether I’m going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I’m not sure.
“I normally like to come to Australia and play and I’ve had the biggest success in my career here, so if I’m fit, healthy, motivated, I don’t see a reason why I wouldn’t come, but there’s always a chance.”
The crowd’s reaction was also slammed by legend John McEnroe on Nine’s coverage.