Novak Djokovic has reached his 13th Australian Open semifinal following an unexpected end to his quarterfinal match against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who retired due to injury on Wednesday.
The match, played at Melbourne Park, took a dramatic turn when Musetti, after winning the first two sets was forced to stop while trailing in the third set, with the score at 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 in Djokovic’s favor.
The result keeps alive Djokovic’s pursuit of a 25th Grand Slam title, which would set him apart as the sole record holder, breaking his current tie with Margaret Court. A ten-time champion at this event, Djokovic secured his 103rd match win at the Australian Open, moving him past Roger Federer for the most victories at the tournament.
Djokovic began strongly, using varied shots to secure an early break. However, Musetti found his rhythm, leveling the set and then pulling ahead with confident play, sealing the first set. The Italian carried that momentum into the second set, striking powerful winners from both sides of the court to take a commanding two-set lead.
Facing elimination, Djokovic received treatment for a blister on his foot early in the third set but continued playing. He managed to break Musetti’s serve to go ahead 2-1. It was then Musetti’s turn to seek medical attention, appearing to struggle with his right thigh.
Though he attempted to continue, Musetti was visibly hampered. After falling behind 3-1 in the third set, he made the decision to retire, drawing a surprised reaction from spectators on Rod Laver Arena.
The walkover in Djokovic’s previous round allowed him extra rest, which seemed to contribute to his persistence as the match progressed. For the 23-year-old Musetti, the retirement marked a heartbreaking conclusion to a deeply promising performance.
Djokovic now awaits the winner of the match between Jannik Sinner and Andrey Rublev for a place in the final.