Novak Djokovic’s bid for a 25th Grand Slam title has ended not in success, but with a handshake, a brief embrace, and a somber walk off the court. After losing a razor-thin first-set tiebreak to Alexander Zverev, 6-7 (5), Djokovic took the decision no competitor takes lightly, as he retired mid-match. Sporting heavy strapping on his left thigh, the 37-year-old Serbian stepped forward, embraced Zverev, shook hands with the chair umpire, and conceded. This was not how the 10-time Australian Open champion imagined his run in Melbourne would end. The injury wasn’t new—far from it. Djokovic revealed later that he had suffered a muscle tear in his left thigh during his punishing quarterfinal clash with Carlos Alcaraz just days earlier. But his withdrawal has left lingering questions about more than the injury. Djokovic’s partnership with coach Andy Murray, which has been a focal point of his recent resurgence, now sits in an uncertain space!

Djokovic in his post-match conference after his loss to Zverev reflected and addressed the uncertainty about his future with coach Andy Murray.  “I don’t know, you know. We were both disappointed with what just happened, so we didn’t talk about the future steps. We’re so fresh off the court,” he admitted.

Despite the tough loss, Djokovic remained appreciative of Murray’s support throughout the tournament. “I’ll definitely have a chat with Andy and thank him for being here with me. I’ll give him my feedback, which is, of course, positive, and see how he feels so we can make the next step.”

Acknowledging the raw emotions of the moment, he added, “Right now, we’re still hot-headed and disappointed, so it’s hard to switch the page and start talking about what’s next. I think we both need to cool off a little bit and then we’ll have a chat.”

Novak Djokovic’s decision to team up with Andy Murray as his coach for the Australian Open was initially set as a trial run, with an option to extend their partnership after the ‘Happy Slam. But what unfolded at Melbourne Hardcourts was nothing short of spectacular. While it is hard to say the overall effect of their collaboration just yet, it appeared that throughout the Australian Open, Djokovic renewed a spark in his game.

The highlight came in the quarterfinals, where he delivered a stunning performance against Carlos Alcaraz, securing his first-ever victory over the Spanish sensation in three Grand Slam meetings.

For those who aren’t following the action closely, the Andy-Novak Collab came about in November last year after Djokovic, who was without a full-time coach since parting ways with his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic in March, decided to bring in Andy Murray who retired from professional tennis after 2024 Paris Olympics.

An abrupt end to Novak Djokovic’s journey at the Australian Open drew unpleasant reaction from the crowd. But the former pro-John McEnroe came in Serb’s support.

Australian Open Crowd ‘Boos’ Serb After Semifinals Exit, John McEnroe Slams Reaction

John McEnroe was outraged by the treatment Novak Djokovic received from the Australian Open crowd after his unexpected retirement from the semifinals on Friday. Djokovic, who withdrew due to a torn hamstring, left the court to boos, a reaction that McEnroe found completely unacceptable.

“They can’t possibly be booing him. Please!” McEnroe said passionately while commentating for Channel 9. “He’s won this 10 times, for god’s sakes. Unreal.”

His frustration only grew, as the American continued to voice his disbelief at the fans’ behavior. “He (Djokovic) has won this 10 times. I mean, come on. I mean, clearly something was up. The guy is a battler. I mean, him and Rafa [Nadal] have dug deeper than any two players I have seen.” McEnroe didn’t stop there: “So to do that [boo] because he decided that he couldn’t go on after what he’s done here I thought was absolutely ludicrous, honestly. That was almost as depressing as seeing the end of the match.”

Novak Djokovic’s semifinal opponent Alexander Zverev also came in support of the Serb, “The very first thing I want to say is please, guys, don’t boo a player when he goes out with an injury,” the finalist said.

“I know everyone paid for tickets and everyone wants to see hopefully a great five-set match. But … Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport for the past 20 years absolutely everything of his life,” Zverev added

For Novak Djokovic, his time at the 2025 AO might have come to an abrupt end due to injury but the Serb has time and time fought back. There are three more slams to go this season. Are you backing the Serb to win a couple of those?