"Alexander Zverev is going to let me win" - Novak Djokovic jokingly says he has an 'agreement' with Australian Open SF opponent

Novak Djokovic revealed he has an agreement with Alexander Zverev that will let the Serb win the Grand Slam matches in return for him coaching the German player after retirement. The pair are scheduled to face in the semifinals of the 2025 Australian Open on Friday, January 24.

Zerver, who downed Tommy Paul in four sets during the quarterfinals on Tuesday, revealed earlier this month at the 'A Night with Novak' charity event that he had a deal with the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who would coach him for one year after his retirement. The German joked that he might retire before Djokovic, who's still going strong at 37.

"People don't know that me and Novak, similar to Andy, I don't know, but me and Novak have a deal that once he retires from tennis he's gonna coach me for a year, as well. So he just wants to postpone this until I retire so he doesn't have to do that," he said.

Following Djokovic's thrilling win over Carlos Alcaraz at Melbourne Park on Tuesday, the Serb referenced the agreement with Zverev during his on-court interview and said the World No. 2 would need to let him win Grand Slam matches to receive the coaching.

"We have an agreement as long as I play he's going to let me win Grand Slam matches," Novak Djokovic joked [6:00]

Aside from the friendly banter, the 37-year-old said Zverev was playing at his best and that he hoped to feel at his own when they faceoff inside the Rod Laver Arena on Friday.

"I guess the key is recovery for me now, you know to be honest that's all I'm thinking about. The extra day with no match comes at the perfect time for me, let's see if it's going to be good enough on Friday. Hopefully, I can come out and feel my best you know Sasha is playing some of the best tennis he has played." he added

Novak Djokovic put up an impressive performance against Alcaraz, battling for three hours and 37 minutes with a heavily strapped left thigh to qualify for his 12th Australian Open final. While the scoreline read 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, Djokovic said the match was worthy of the final.

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Novak Djokovic pays heartfelt tribute to Carlos Alcaraz after beating Spaniard in Australian Open QF

2025 Australian Open - Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz during quarterfinals - Source: Getty

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz's clash always promises fireworks and it delivered yet again. It was the veteran who came out on top this time and said he was proud of the Spaniard's competitive spirit before making a bold prediction about his future.

Speaking during the aforementioned on-court interview, he said:

"My utmost respect and admiration for Carlos and everything he stands for and he's achieved so far in his young career. What a terrific guy he is and even a better competitor, the youngest ever No.1 in the world, in the history of our sport so four slams and I'm sure we are going to see a lot of him maybe not as much as I would like but he's going to be there for sure, longer than me and I just wish this match today was the finals." [0:45 onwards]

Djokovic and Alcaraz have faced each other eight times so far with the Serb winning five of those matches. The pair went up against each other twice during the 2024 season, Olympic and Wimbledon Championship Final, and while the 37-year-old Djokovic won a historic Gold in Paris, Alcaraz won his fourth Grand Slam title.