"Starts faking injury day before game"; "Building excuse" - Fans react to Novak Djokovic's latest update ahead of Australian Open SF

Novak Djokovic canceled a practice session a day ahead of his 2025 Australian Open semifinal clash against Alexander Zverev. This development prompted plenty of fans to suspect that the Serb has a genuine injury concern.

Towards the end of the first set in his blockbuster quarterfinal matchup with Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic took a medical timeout after struggling with his movement. He returned to the Rod Laver Arena court with his left thigh bandaged and soon lost the set. Remarkably, the Serb bounced back and won the three following sets to seal his spot in the semis.

After the match, the former World No. 1 stated that had he lost the second set as well, he might have contemplated retiring from the match. On Thursday, January 23, reports surfaced, confirming that the record 10-time Australian Open champion pulled out from a practice session.

Tennis journalist and insider Jose Morgado was among those who reacted to the news on X, writing:

"Djokovic cancelled practices/didn’t practice in the off days of a Grand Slam dozens of times in the past. That’s just something he likes to do in recent years to preserve his body. I wouldn’t be too concerned about this, tbh…"

Many tennis fans didn't buy into the uncertainty surrounding Novak Djokovic's further participation at the 2025 Australian Open. Most of them suggested that the Serb canceled the practice session to indirectly put pressure on semifinal opponent Alexander Zverev, the current ATP No. 2.

"Oh, starts faking injury day before the game," a fan wrote.

"He is healthy, as usual. Building an excuse, just in case…," commented another.

"Most pathetic tactical mastermind who wins matches by dirty tactics everytime," another chimed in.

Here are some more fan reactions to Djokovic's practice session cancelation.

"Notice how Federer never played any mind games like this? Novax has done this so many times. This is why people still regard Federer as the GOAT," stated one fan.

"He practiced off-site. How many times are we going to fall for NoVaX’s medical miracle at the tail end of tournaments," added another.

"Lies. This is only the beginning of the mental games. He’s truly a piece of work," another fan weighed in.

In the aftermath of his quarterfinal victory against Carlos Alcaraz, the Serb stated that he capitalized on the Spaniard producing a rather hesitant performance after becoming aware of his injury.

"I felt that Carlos Alcaraz was looking at me more than he was looking at himself" - Novak Djokovic on Spaniard's erratic display in Australian Open SF

Carlos Alcaraz (left) and Novak Djokovic (right) after their 2025 Australian Open quarterfinal (Source: Getty)

Carlos Alcaraz failed to maintain his first-set focus and rhythm as time went on in his quarterfinal encounter against Novak Djokovic. There were several instances of the Spaniard playing wayward shots as he tried to keep up with the Serb, who seemed rejuvenated and revitalized after coming back from his medical timeout.

In his post-match press conference, the 24-time Major winner spoke up about how Alcaraz's focus was not on himself but rather on how the Serb was doing.

"I understand that it's not comfortable to play someone that you don't know if he's going to retire or not. Is he moving? Is he running? What's happening? I felt that he was looking at me more than he was looking at himself. I was just trying to be, yeah, self-observing what's going on in my body and at the same time focus on every point in every game and try to hold my serve and put pressure on him," Djokovic said.

If the Serb manages to play Zverev and win the match, he will go on to face either Ben Shelton or World No. 1 and the defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the final.