Tennis fans all say same thing about Alexander Zverev as Novak Djokovic drops 'not be back' bombshell

Alexander Zverev has won widespread praise around the tennis world after leaping to Novak Djokovic's defence in the face of the Serbian star being booed by fans for quitting the Australian Open. And Djokovic has since revealed there's a chance he might never play the Australian Open again.

Djokovic shocked the tennis world when he retired hurt after losing the first set in his semi-final clash with Zverev on Friday. He later revealed he suffered a hamstring tear in the quarter-final against Carlos Alcaraz, and it was much worse than the one he played with to win the title in Melbourne in 2023.

Spectators booed Djokovic as he left Rod Laver Arena - a reaction that's been widely condemned around the tennis world. Amid the controversy, Zverev showed his class by putting the booing fans in their place.

Speaking to Jim Courier in his on-court interview, the German said: "The very first thing I want to say is please, guys, don't boo a player when he goes out with an injury. I know everyone paid for tickets and everyone wants to see hopefully a great five-set match.

"But ... Novak Djokovic is someone who has given this sport for the past 20 years absolutely everything of his life. He has won this tournament with an abdominal tear, he has won it with a hamstring tear. If he cannot continue a tennis match it means he really cannot continue a tennis match.”

Tennis fans praise Alexander Zverev for brilliant response

Tickets for the men's semi-finals started at $300 and went all the way up to $1000-plus. A lot of the booing would have been fans unhappy they'd forked out so much money only to see one set of tennis. But speaking in his post-match press conference, Zverev said it doesn't excuse the booing.

"There's no guy on the tour that I respect more than Novak. He's been one of my closest friends on tour," the World No.2 said. "When I struggled I could always text him, I could always ask him for advice. I was speaking to him for hours in Shanghai when I struggled after the US Open defeat in the quarter-finals last year. I wanted this to be a tough match. He has won this tournament 10 times. Again, I have nothing but respect for him."

Tennis fans and commentators were full of praise for the way Zverev responded. The German hasn't always been the most popular player amongst fans, but won many over on Friday.

Novak Djokovic drops bombshell he might not be back

Meanwhile, Djokovic admitted he could understand the booing to an extent, and also dropped a bombshell that he might have played his last Australian Open. The 24-time major winner vowed to bounce back from his injury and strive to win more grand slams, but confessed there's always a chance he might not be back in Australia due to his ageing body.

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Deriding injury as his "biggest enemy", the 37-year-old said he's hopeful of returning to Australia next year because of all the success he's had Down Under, winning 10 titles in Melbourne. But he admitted: "I don't know. There is a chance (I won't be back). Who knows? I'll just have to see how the season goes. I want to keep going, but whether I'm going to have a revised schedule or not for the next year, I'm not sure.

"I normally like to come to Australia to play. I've had the biggest success in my career here, so if I'm fit, healthy, motivated, I don't see a reason why I wouldn't come. But there's always a chance, yeah (that I won't return)."

Despite his unprecedented success, Djokovic has a murky relationship with Australia. He was infamously deported from the country in 2022, and fans have never really been on his side. And considering the treatment he received this year - including the sage with Channel 9 host Tony Jones - who could blame him if he never comes back.