Novak Djokovic explains retirement after picking up injury in Six Kings Slam match
Novak Djokovic apologised to the crowd after retiring from his Six Kings Slam third-place match against Taylor Fritz due to an injury.
The 38-year-old lost a physical, 75-minute first set against Fritz and shook hands with the American after he won the tiebreak 7-5.
Djokovic appeared to pull up with a left leg injury during the match and decided he could not continue playing in slow conditions.
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:37
Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz won 12 of his 13 drop shots against Taylor Fritz in his semi-final on Thursday, and was electric.
Sinner dropped just eight points on serve against Novak Djokovic, and looked unstoppable.
It could define this Six Kings Slam final, with the conditions of Riyadh and the court offering a different dimension to their latest meeting.
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:35
Carlos Alcaraz v Jannik Sinner
The grand final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be up next!
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:18
Novak Djokovic picks up injury during third-place match
It looks like Djokovic pulled up with a right-leg injury during the match. He battled through a lot of long games and shook hands with Fritz as soon as he lost the first set, having to win in at least three sets to win the match.
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:17
Taylor Fritz records first win over Novak Djokovic
After 11 defeats, Taylor Fritz records his first ever win over Novak Djokovic. It’s not the way he wanted to do it, in a first-set retirement, and it won’t count towards the official head-to-head. But that was a proper battle and can offer the American a lot of encouragement.
“That was really physical, you know what happens is you get into those really long games and the balls start to just wear out and get so huge to the point where it’s so hard to get a free point on the serve, hit a winner.
“Playing the long points, playing the long games, makes everything just slower, longer. It’s such a tough set and at the end of it, like I said, conditions just got so slow we’re just playing. Long rallies, back to back to back, just having to fight for every point, so it’s, it’s brutal.”
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:12
Novak Djokovic explains retirement
“Not great, I want to apologise to everybody. Sorry guys. Sorry you couldn’t see the second set. One of the longest sets I’ve played.
“Credit to Taylor. We had some incredible games towards the end of that set, and it’s one of the longest sets I’ve ever played, to be honest.
“It was an amazing visit to Riyadh for me once again. I want to thank everybody for really welcoming me. Hopefully if I keep on going next year, I’ll be back if you guys want me here.
“Now it’s rest and really addressing some of the issues I have with my body, and then hopefully playing the last couple of tournaments of the season, let’s see.”
(REUTERS)
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:10
NOVAK DJOKOVIC RETIRES FROM THE MATCH!
WOW! Djokovic shakes hands with Fritz and the match is over! Djokovic holds his hands up to the crowd! But after a 75-minute first set, he concedes the match!
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:09
FIRST SET! Novak Djokovic 6-7 Taylor Fritz
Fritz leans into the backhand down the line and pulls out a super winner, bringing up his first set point.
Djokovic catches the line but Fritz replies with a massive forehand, Djokovic goes long!!
Fritz wins the set on the tiebreak!
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:08
Tiebreak! Novak Djokovic 6-6 Taylor Fritz
Awesome from Djokovic! He rips the forehand return down the line off the Fritz second-serve to get into the changeover at 3-3.
Fritz wins a scrambling point by covering Djokovic at the net. Djokovic lands a serve out wide that Fritz can’t return.
But that’s super from Fritz! He goes from power and depth to a delicate drop shot – he leads 5-4 with two serves to come, the set in his grasp.
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:07
Tiebreak! Novak Djokovic 6-6 Taylor Fritz
Fritz scorches back-to-back winners after a misguided drop shot on the opening point. And Fritz then comes up with a stunner, a dipping backhand as Djokovic came into the net. Fritz goes up 3-2 with two serves to come.
Jamie Braidwood18 October 2025 19:03
