2025 Australian Open men's semifinal preview: Novak Djokovic vs. Alexander Zverev

Few, if any, players have ever made more out of an injury than Novak Djokovic, especially at the Australian Open.

Twice in this decade he has nursed a mysterious ailment all the way to a title Down Under. In 2021, after hosting the winner’s trophy, he revealed that he had been dealing with an abdominal tear all along. In 2023, it was a hamstring tear that failed to stop him.

On Tuesday, Djokovic picked up what has so far been described as a groin injury. Once again, it wasn’t enough to keep him from beating his biggest rival, Carlos Alcaraz. Is Djokovic destined to limp—and will—his way across the finish line in Melbourne again?

Read more: Had Novak Djokovic lost the second set to Carlos Alcaraz, he wasn't sure if he'd continue playing

Much of that depends on how he feels in the next two days. Djokovic survived Alcaraz by taking an extra dose of a painkiller. What happens when that wears off? The good news for Djokovic is that he’ll have two days of rest before his semifinal.

“The extra day with no match comes at a good time,” Djokovic says. “I have to assess the situation tomorrow when I wake up. I will try to do as much as I possibly can with my recovery team, with my physio today, tomorrow, the next few days.”

The fact that this injury “reminded me of 2023” is probably another good sign for Djokovic. He has played through something similar once and won, so he’ll likely feel as if he can do it again, and he’ll know how to manage his body during the final stages of the tournament.

In 2021, Zverev was one of the players that Djokovic managed his way past, in a four-set quarterfinal. Four years later, Djokovic leads their head-to-head 8-4, and is 3-0 at the Slams. But Zverev did win a match of maximum importance to both men, when they met in the semifinals at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

He’s super dangerous opponent on this surface against anyone. Novak Djokovic on Alexander Zverev

As they enter 2025, Djokovic and Zverev have the same overarching goal: To win a Slam title, after striking out at all four last year. But it would mean different things to each of them. For the 37-year-old Djokovic, it would be a record 25th. For the 27-year-old Zverev, it would be a career-changing first major, after 10 years of being touted as a potential successor to the Big 3. Motivation, it’s safe to say, will be high for both men.

“It's definitely going to be challenging from every aspect,” Djokovic says. “I’m playing Zverev, who is in a great form, and he’s going for his first Grand Slam. He’s been close.

“I think he loves the conditions [in Australia]. He’s got a big serve. He’s super dangerous opponent on this surface against anyone.”

Zverev is indeed a formidable follow-up to Alcaraz. The German is tough to break, he makes his opponents work for every point, he understands how to pace himself over five sets, he knows his best is good enough to beat anyone, and he’s 10 years younger.

But the last step has proved the hardest for him. Twice Zverev was in a position to win a Slam last year, in the Australian Open semifinals and the Roland Garros final. In Melbourne, he went up two sets to love against Daniil Medvedev and lost. In Paris, he went up two sets to one against Carlos Alcaraz and lost. He’ll know that, and more important, Djokovic will know it, too.

Something new and different might happen in this match. Djokovic’s injury might hamper him. He might be too tired. Zverev might finally be ready to come through against him at a Slam.

So why does it feel like déjà vu all over again Down Under? Winner: Djokovic