Novak Djokovic has revealed he felt “bitterness” towards the Australian Open crowd when he got booed for retiring at last year’s tournament through injury.
The Serbian put in a performance for the ages in his four-set quarter-final win over Carlos Alcaraz at the 2025 Australian Open, particularly as he suffered a muscle tear and dropped the first set.
But the then 37-year-old roared back and took out the young Spaniard in stunning style, setting up an intriguing last-four clash with Alexander Zverev.
Unfortunately for Djokovic, the quarter-final encounter took its toll and after losing a lengthy first set, the 24-time major winner decided he could not continue against the German.
Despite winning this tournament on 10 occasions, boos rang out across Rod Laver Arena as he exited the court, prompting Djokovic to do a sarcastic thumbs-up gesture.
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Three years prior, Djokovic was deported from Australia after a losing a court bid to stay in the country to play in the 2022 tournament in Melbourne.
Judges rejected a challenge by the Serb, who decided against getting the coronavirus vaccine, after the government cancelled his visa on “health and good order” grounds.
In Djokovic’s new ‘The Wolf in Winter’ documentary, he called the decision “so political”. So when he won the in 2023, the tears and pent up energy all came out.
And just when it looked like he had got back into the good books of Australians in 2025, the reaction to his retirement against Zverev stung.
He said in the documentary, “I felt bitterness when I was exiting the court with that atmosphere and people booing. But it is what it is. In some way I understand that people want a match; they’ve paid for the tickets, they want to come and see you perform – I get it.
“I know in my heart if I am able to leave it all out there on the court, particularly aged 37 in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, I would do it because it might be the last semi-final of my career, I don’t know.
“If I feel like it’s not possible to do what I do on the level that is necessary to be able to play five sets potentially then I am not going to do it, as simple as that. I don’t expect all the people to understand that.”
In an interview with 9 News Australia this week, Djokovic stressed that he had “many more positives” memories than bad ones Down Under.
And even after that “difficult and challenging” year in 2022, Djokovic said he didn’t “hold any grudges”, it was a valuable experience for him, and he always looks forward to returning to Australia.
