Novak Djokovic cancels practice ahead of Australian open semi-final

Novak Djokovic fought through groin injury to down Alcaraz.

Novak Djokovic staged a dramatic four-set victory over two-time Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz, despite a groin injury. The Serbian began on the backfoot, losing the first set and even opting for a medical timeout. He re-emerged from the locker room with a heavily strapped left thigh, but managed to defeat the Spaniard to qualify for his 50th Grand Slam semi-final.

“I will try to do as much as I possibly can with my recovery team, with my physio, today, tomorrow, the next few days. Probably skip training tomorrow. I’ll see if I’m going to train in two days or not,” he said.

“I’ll take it day by day. Now it’s really about recovery. I’m concerned. I am, to be honest, physically. But, if I manage somehow to be physically good enough, I think mentally, and emotionally, I’m as motivated as I can be,” said the 37-year-old after his win, admitting that the situation remains challenging.

After skipping training on Wednesday, the 10-time Australian Open champion has now opted not to train on Thursday, just a day before his semi-final clash. This means he will head into his match against Alexander Zverev without any on-court practice since his quarter-final battle with Carlos Alcaraz.

Known for his disciplined approach to practice sessions, Djokovic’s decision to skip training ahead of such a critical match highlights the seriousness of the issue.

Also Read: Novak Djokovic vs Alexander Zverev prediction, betting tips & odds, head-to-head, preview: Australian Open 2025

The 37-year-old also admitted that the injury felt similar to the one he suffered in 2023 when he played with a hamstring tear. On that occasion, he went on to lift his 10th Australian Open title and it was later revealed he had a three-centimetre hamstring tear.

Despite the concerns, Djokovic will hope to recover in time as a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam triumph is at stake. The Serbian has never faltered in Australian Open finals so far, and beating Zverev would bring him closer to yet another trophy at the Melbourne Park.

The 25-time Grand Slam champion leads the German 8-4 on head-to-head. A victory would result in a direct face-off with the winner of the other semi-final contest between defending champion Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton.

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