Day 13 of the Australian Open 2025 delivered high drama and emotional rollercoasters as Novak Djokovic’s quest for history came to a painful halt, while Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner booked their spots in the men’s singles final.
In the highly anticipated semi-final at Rod Laver Arena, Djokovic’s resilience met its match — not in Zverev, but in his own body. The 37-year-old Serbian, chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title, was forced to retire after dropping the first set 7-6(5). Having battled a muscle tear sustained in his quarter-final victory over Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic’s movement was visibly hampered from the outset. He pushed through with sheer grit but signalled to his box after the tiebreak, conceding defeat in a rare moment of vulnerability.
“I’ve played through pain before, but today it was beyond my limits,” Djokovic said post-match, his disappointment evident. “It’s tough to leave a tournament this way, especially here in Melbourne, but I’ll take time to heal and come back stronger.”
Zverev, who had lost to Djokovic in their previous Grand Slam meetings, expressed sympathy for his opponent. “Novak is a warrior. If he can’t continue, you know it’s serious,” the German remarked. “But I have to focus on what’s ahead now — an opportunity to finally win my first Slam.”
Meanwhile, in the day’s second semi-final, Sinner showcased his growing maturity and dominance, dispatching American sensation Ben Shelton 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2. The Italian world No. 1, now into his second consecutive Australian Open final, demonstrated clinical precision under pressure. Shelton, who had two set points in the opener, struggled to keep up with Sinner’s relentless baseline assault.
“I knew the first set would be crucial,” Sinner said. “Ben is a dangerous player, and I had to stay mentally strong. I’m happy with my performance and looking forward to the final.”
Despite the straight-sets defeat, Shelton remained optimistic. “I’m getting closer,” he said. “I had my chances and I’ll learn from this experience. There’s a lot to build on for the rest of the season.”
With Djokovic out of the equation, the final presents Zverev with perhaps his best chance to claim an elusive Grand Slam crown, but Sinner’s form suggests he won’t relinquish his shot at history easily.
As the Australian Open nears its climax, all eyes are now on Sabalenka, Keys, Sinner and Zverev, each seeking to etch their name into Grand Slam history.