‘Amazing he was even able to play’: Expert reveals extent of Djokovic injury

Novak Djokovic has posted a scan on social media of his left hamstring that forced him to retire from his Australian Open semi-final, and respected sports doctor Peter Larkins said it shows there are no doubts that the tennis star was actually injured.

“It’s a significant strain,” Larkins said. “It’s not career-ending, but I felt it was quite amazing that he was even able to play a couple of matches after he initially did it.

“Novak’s incredibly athletic and mobile on the court. We’ve seen those slides [he does] … There’s no surprise that he was limited. There’s no doubt, that’s what the scan shows.”

Djokovic was unimpressed at being booed by some in the Melbourne crowd when he retired from his match against Alexander Zverev on Friday after losing a draining opening set in a tiebreak.

The Serb explained afterwards that he had suffered a torn muscle, but that was evidently not enough to stop the 24-time grand slam champion from receiving some criticism on social media.

The 37-year-old offered no extra information, so it was still left unclear when he might next hope to be back in action. But Larkins said the scans he later posted showed the former world No.1 would need a period of rest.

“He’s not going to lose fitness because he’ll be in the gym, he’ll be in the pool … [but] I’d be surprised if he plays any tournaments in the next six weeks,” the doctor said.

During Zverev’s on-court interview after their aborted semi-final, the German was quick to jump to Djokovic’s defence, chastening those who booed the 10-time Melbourne champion.

“I know that everybody paid for tickets and everybody wants to see hopefully a great five-set match,” Zverev said.

“But you’ve got to understand – Novak Djokovic is somebody that has given this sport, for the past 20 years, absolutely everything of his life.”

Novak Djokovic leaves the court on Friday.Credit: Getty Images

Djokovic had been hurt late in the first set of his previous match, a four-set victory against Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals on Tuesday night.

“I did everything I possibly can to basically manage the muscle tear that I had,” Djokovic said at his post-match news conference on Friday.

“Towards the end of that first set, I just started feeling more and more pain. It was too much, I guess, to handle for me at the moment. Unfortunate ending, but I tried.”

Of those who booed him, he added: “I am doing my best to understand them, but I am not sure whether they understand me or if they even want to understand me.

“I know how my body works, what I feel, and I know how much I’ve given to this tournament in the past 20-plus years. I will stop here, so that I don’t continue (speaking) in the wrong direction.”

AAP, with agencies