Novak Djokovic's earnings revealed after tennis icon pulled out of Alexander Zverev Australian Open match
WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as Novak Djokovic's Australian Open campaign comes to an end
Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Australian Open on Friday morning after succumbing to injury in his semi-final showdown with Alexander Zverev.
But the Serb can take some solace knowing he's earned a nice sum of money for his exploits Down Under, even if he was ultimately unable to go all the way.
Djokovic lost the first set against Zverev but, having suffered a muscle tear in his victory over Carlos Alcaraz on Tuesday, couldn't go on.
The German will now lock horns with Jannik Sinner in Sunday's Australian Open final, with Zverev chasing the first major of his career.
Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Australian Open on Friday morning after succumbing to injury in his semi-final showdown with Alexander Zverev
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Djokovic was frustrated after being forced to withdraw, with the 37-year-old admitting that he felt 'hot-headed'.
But he'll still walk away from the tournament £550,897 better off after reaching the semi-final stage.
As for Zverev, the German has earned a guaranteed sum of £951,549 for reaching the final.
That sum could rise to £1,752,853 if he's able to go all the way on Sunday and beat Sinner, though that will certainly be no easy task.
Meanwhile, Djokovic was booed off the court on Friday as he exited the Rod Laver Arena.
Fans expecting an epic between the veteran and Zverev were left disappointed and made their feelings clear.
Djokovic, speaking to Serbian media in the aftermath, acknowledged their complaints by saying that he 'understands' their point of view.
But the 37-year-old also suggested that supporters didn't want to understand his own stance on the matter.
READ MORE: Andy Murray makes 'embarrassing' admission after Novak Djokovic quits Australian Open
“I don’t know what to say... people have come, they paid for the tickets expecting a great match and a big fight, which they didn’t get," stated the former world No 1.
“From that perspective, I can understand. 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 in the wrong direction.”
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Novak Djokovic has made £550,897 at the Australian Open this winter following his decision to withdraw from his match with Alexander Zverev
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Djokovic also admitted that injury is the 'biggest enemy' of an athlete.
"It is what it is," he said. "Injury is the biggest enemy of a professional athlete.
"That's the beauty of one-on-one sport, [it] is such that there is no replacement, there is no substitution.
"I could not go out now after first set and somebody comes in for me and then I rest for an hour, and maybe come back or maybe come back for the next match and my team wins.
Novak Djokovic has admitted injury is an athlete's 'worst enemy' following his decision to pull out of the Australian Open
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"It doesn't happen in our sport. If you in a way don't show up and if something is wrong, you're out.
"But that's, again, the sport we are part of. I love it."
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