Novak Djokovic‘s quest for the 25th Grand Slam title came to a halt owing to an injury. The injury forced the tennis legend to retire in the semifinals against world No. 2, Alexander Zverev. Djokovic knew what he was going through after he pulled off a remarkable win against Carlos Alcaraz despite struggling with his left thigh pain. As the 37-year-old packed his equipment and walked off after acknowledging the Rod Laver Arena crowd, Djokovic was met with boos. This reaction left his fans and former tennis greats deeply unsettled. Was the display of frustration from the crowd justified, or was it too much?

In the highly anticipated showdown, Zverev claimed the first-set tiebreak (7-5) after an unforced net error from Djokovic. It was immediately clear that something was wrong. Djokovic signaled his inability to continue, bringing the match to an abrupt ending. While Zverev was delivering a clinical performance, Djokovic’s struggles became more evident. He managed just 54% of the first serves and converted only 36% of the net points. His discomfort became palpable, culminating in a net error that cost him the set and marked his final moment in the match.

The crowd’s reaction to Djokovic departure drew sharp criticism from tennis icons like Andy Roddick, who expressed it on the latest episode of his podcast, Served with Andy Roddick.”It’s just like booing someone when they are going off even if you don’t know they are really hurt, you don’t boo. If you suspect they are not hurt but there is a chance they are telling the truth, you don’t boo. Like I just hated the fact that he is leaving the court to boos,” the 42-year-old said. Despite Djokovic sharing MRI scans of his injury on social media, speculation about the extent of the injury still persists. ESPN analyst Chris Fowler described the injury as a tear in “the deepest part of his hamstring.”

Roddick admitted that witnessing the crowd’s reaction left him feeling “icky.” He elaborated, “I am not telling you to cheer for someone, you don’t want to cheer for. I am saying there is a million miles between not being an out and out and fan of someone and also booing someone who is one of the all-time greats when you don’t know if you are going to see them again. I didn’t like that. It made me feel icky on the inside.”

Adding to the Australian Open retirement, the Serbian tennis federation confirmed Djokovic’s withdrawal from the Davis Cup first-round qualifier due to the same hamstring injury. As far as the speculation about his return goes, fans might have to wait a couple of months to see him back in action. There is hope that he might return to the court during the French Open in May.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Kim Clijsters also shared her thoughts on Djokovic’s treatment from the crowd. Appearing on the same podcast, Clijsters disliked the booing, noting its similarity to an incident where Naomi Osaka was heckled for withdrawing from a championship game.

“I don’t like it. Doesn’t matter where it happens, I don’t like it. These are players and I even think [Naomi] Osaka when she was in the final of the lead-up tournament, she pulled out after the first set. I think a lot of times people are more like, ‘I paid this money and I want to watch it.’ I think that also kind of creeps in there a little bit,” she said. For Djokovic, it was the second time in four Grand Slams that an injury forced him to withdraw. Last year, he exited the French Open before the quarterfinals due to a torn meniscus.

Clijsters further noted, “With Novak, I do think people like to go against him cuz they know they are going to get a reaction and I don’t like it, which is why he is posting his MRI results, right because he wants to shut everybody up and see like, ‘Listen I am not faking anything.’” Djokovic has a way of pushing through injuries, as seen two years ago at Melbourne Park when he won the title despite the hamstring injury. However, this time, the 37-year-old wasn’t able to pull off the heroic escape again.

Novak Djokovic to receive massive honor at Australian Open despite retirement controversy

Novak Djokovic’s bittersweet relationship with the Australian Open is about to take an iconic turn. The Serbian tennis legend will be honored with a statue at Melbourne Park solidifying his legacy in the tournament. This recognition follows a tumultuous campaign marked by tensions with the Aussie crowd. Despite not being the crowd favorite, Djokovic reached the semifinals with an impressive win over the third seed Carlos Alcaraz.

Australian Open CEO Craig Tiley recently shared plans for the statue, emphasizing Djokovic’s unparalleled achievements as a 10-time champion. Speaking to The Age, Tiley explained, “I think the way we’ve got the celebration of the Australians in the Hall of Fame is great, but I think we’ve decided we’re a global event. He’s won this event 10 times, and we all get along great with Novak and his team. They’re actually fun to be around, and he’s so highly competitive walking on the court – he wants to do nothing but win.”

The Djokovic statue is part of a larger initiative to honor the tennis legends at the Australian Open. Tiley revealed that the new attraction will celebrate iconic players, with Serena Williams and Roger Federer also slated to receive similar recognition in the coming years.

The controversy surrounding Novak Djokovic’s semi-final exit at the 2025 Australian Open has ignited debates about fan behavior and respect for players. As the tennis world speculates on his return, the incident served as a reminder that even legends deserve empathy, especially in moments of vulnerability.