Alexander Zverev shared when he noticed Novak Djokovic was really starting to feel the effects of his injury at the Australian Open.
The German battled the 24-time Grand Slam champion for a place in the final at Melbourne Park in a match that lasted just one set.
The 27-year-old claimed the opening set on a tiebreak before Djokovic retired from the match due to a leg injury.
This ensured Alexander Zverev moved into his first Australian Open final where he will bid to win his first Grand Slam title.
What Alexander Zverev noticed about Novak Djokovic in their Australian Open semi-final
Zverev and Novak Djokovic engaged in a gruelling one hour and 21-minute opening set, in which neither player experienced a break of serve.
The World number two took the first set via a tiebreak, after which Djokovic decided to stop playing as the muscle tear in his leg worsened.
Post-match Zverev commented on Djokovic’s injury struggles and when he could really see how much it was impacting the Serbian towards the end of the first set.
“I actually thought it was quite a high level first set. But I mean, of course, there are some difficulties and the longer he continued playing, maybe the worse it got.
“In the tiebreak he was maybe not moving as well as he had been in the entire first set but I thought we had extremely long rallies. Extremely long physical rallies. In the tiebreak I did see him struggle maybe a bit more.”
Alexander Zverev sends message to Australian Open crowd after they booed Novak Djokovic
Zverev has reached the Australian Open final for the first time though it did not occur in circumstances he would have hoped.
He shook hands with Djokovic and watched as he made his way off the court to boos from the crowd.
This prompted the German to use his on-court interview to send a strong message to those inside Rod Laver Arena.
“Please, guys, don’t boo a player who leaves the court due to injury. I know that everyone paid to be here and hopes to see a great five-set match.
“But you have to understand that Novak Djokovic has given his all to this sport for 20 years.”
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