Advertisment

WATCH: 'Please guys don’t...' - Alexander Zverev condemns Australian Open crowd for booing Novak Djokovic after semi-final retirement

Alexander Zverev urged the crowd to refrain from booing the Serbian ace, stating that the 24-time Grand Slam winner deserves respect for his contributions to tennis over the past two decades.

author-image
Pratyusha Bhawar
New Update
Alexander Zverev condemns Australian Open crowd

Photograph: (Twitter)

After tennis legend Novak Djokovic's shocking retirement in the semifinal thriller against world number two Alexander Zverev at the 2025 Australian Open in the Rod Laver Arena of the Melbourne Park on Jan 24, the Germany-born star showcased strong support for his opponent after storming into the final showdown. Djokovic, who was battling a left leg injury, retired after losing the first set 7-6(5) to Zverev, leading to huge media attention and crowd reactions at the Rod Laver Arena.

Advertisment

Following the same, in his post-match interview, Alexander Zverev urged the crowd to refrain from booing Serbian ace, stating that the respect 24-time Grand Slam winner deserves for his contributions to tennis over the past two decades.

The 27-year-old tennis star highly spoke about the Serbian legend's resilience in past tournaments, which have taken the game to the pinnacle of the level, recalling instances where Djokovic emerged victorious despite grave injuries in the encounters. Zverev called for spectators to show appreciation for Djokovic's legacy and dedication to the sport. Notably, the fans' reaction was mixed as several fans booed Djokovic as he exited the court.

The Hamburg-born star also shared that he considers the Serbian ace as his friend and mentor, expressing displeasure that their much-anticipated match did not unfold as expected. 

Also Read: WATCH: Novak Djokovic exits 2025 Australian Open against Alexander Zverev amid booing crowd

Alexander Zverev hails Novak Djokovic's legacy despite his exit from AO 2025

“There’s no guy on tour I respect more than Novak. He’s been one of my closest friends. Whenever I struggled, I could always call him. I have nothing but respect for him. Please guys don’t boo a player when he goes out with injury. I know everyone paid for tickets.. but Novak has given everything of his life to the sport the last 20 years," Alexander Zverev said after getting a clean pass into the finals.

Also Read: 'I can’t believe people are pointing...' - Paul McNamee defends Novak Djokovic's injury in quarter-finals vs Carlos Alcaraz

Tennis Novak Djokovic Alexander Zverev ATP Australian Open
Advertisment
Advertisment