Novak Djokovic’s dream of securing a historic 25th Grand Slam title came to an abrupt halt at the Australian Open. The tennis star had to walk off the court during his semifinal match against Alexander Zverev after struggling with a painful left leg injury.

The match was intense from the start, with both players battling fiercely. Djokovic, clearly favoring his leg, pushed through the first set but ultimately lost in a tie-break after over an hour of play. As the set ended, the crowd at Rod Laver Arena watched in shock as the two players shook hands and Djokovic waved goodbye, leaving the court to a mix of cheers and boos.

Zverev, who advanced to his first Australian Open final, quickly addressed the crowd, asking for respect for Djokovic’s legacy. “He’s given everything to this sport for 20 years,” Zverev said. “If he can’t continue, it’s because he truly can’t.”

Djokovic later revealed he had been nursing a muscle tear since his previous match against Carlos Alcaraz. Despite medical treatment and physio sessions, the pain became too much to bear. “I tried everything I could, but it was just too much today,” he admitted. “It’s unfortunate, but I gave it my all.”

The Serbian star, a 10-time Australian Open champion, didn’t rule out a return next year. “I’ve had great success here, and if I’m fit and motivated, I’d love to come back,” he said.

Meanwhile, Zverev is now eyeing his first Grand Slam title as he prepares to face the winner of the other semifinal between Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner. The tennis world waits to see if he can seize the moment and make history himself.