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Australian Open: Sinner feels for Djokovic after semi-final withdrawal

Novak Djokovic was booed by fans after retiring injured from his Australian Open semi-final, but Jannik Sinner has called for sympathy.

Jannik Sinner wished Novak Djokovic well following his withdrawal from the Australian Open, saying the Serbian must have been suffering to quit at the semi-final stage.

Djokovic's quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam title came to an abrupt end on Friday, when an injury forced him to halt his last-four clash with Alexander Zverev.

Djokovic, who sustained a muscle injury during his quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz earlier this week, seized up near the end of the first set, which Zverev won in a tie-break.

The 10-time Melbourne Park champion was booed by some sections of the crowd at Rod Laver Arena as he embraced Zverev and informed the umpire of his withdrawal.

But defending champion Sinner, who will face Zverev in Sunday's showpiece match after cruising past Ben Shelton in his own semi-final, said Djokovic deserves sympathy. 

Speaking to reporters after his own win later on Friday, Sinner said: "I haven't seen. I was warming up. I didn't see it live. I saw afterwards how it happened. 

"It's very unfortunate to see these kinds of things, especially in semi-finals of grand slams. But if Novak retires, it means that he has big issues. 

"He has won here in the past with some physical problems, and he always tried to do his best. 

"He gave so much until now in his career for this sport. It's unfortunate to see. I wish him a speedy recovery."

Sinner has lost two of his six career meetings with final opponent Zverev, who triumphed in five sets when the players last met at a grand slam, in the last 16 of the 2023 US Open.

Indeed, only Daniil Medvedev (seven), Alcaraz and Stefanos Tsitsipas (six each) have won more Tour-level matches against Sinner than Zverev (four).

Sinner knows he is in for a tough assignment, saying: "First of all, it's going to be mental, no? Then, of course, we played already sometimes. It's going to be a tough match for both of us. 

"It's going to be physical, for sure. I think he played some incredible tennis to go to the final. It's tough to say whoever is the favourite in a way because everything can happen. 

"These are all questions we are going to see answered on Sunday. It's very difficult to talk today in advance."

Sunday's final will be the first in the Australian Open men's singles to feature the first and second seeds since 2019, when Djokovic beat Rafael Nadal while seeded first.

At 27 years and 281 days old, two-time major runner-up Zverev could become the oldest man to win a maiden grand slam crown since Stan Wawrinka at the 2014 Australian Open, which he won at the age of 28 years and 304 days.

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