Novak Djokovic v Alexander Zverev; Jannik Sinner v Ben Shelton results, scores, schedule, draw, how to watch
Just how injured is Novak Djokovic? That is the question sweeping Melbourne Park as we approach the Serbian’s semi-final clash with No.2 seed Alexander Zverev on Rod Laver Arena.
While the mouth-watering match is due to start from 2.30pm, it was reported that Djokovic skipped an on-court training session on Thursday, but he made use of his scheduled practice session at Melbourne Park today.
Djokovic appeared to injure his left groin area in the first set of his quarter-final victory over Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz. He hobbled off the court for treatment, returned to lose the opening set, then the medication kicked in, and he closed out the remaining three sets.
Mysteriously, and perhaps typically, the 24 grand slam singles titles winner then refused to elaborate on what was wrong.
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“Well, since I’m still in the tournament I don’t want to reveal too much obviously,” the 24-time major champion winner told Jim Courier in his on-court interview.
“Yeah, the medication started to kick in and they helped, no doubt. I had to take another dose, I mean this sounds awful (laughs), me taking another dose, but I had to.”
Interestingly, Courier now believes that the injury is all that stands between Djokovic and making Sunday’s final.
“There are certainly big question marks over the injury he sustained the other night,” Courier told Nine’s Tony Jones on Friday.
“He will have treated it yesterday and today. But if he is fit and moving the way that he was (against Alcaraz in the final three sets), it is very likely he is going to make it into the final.”