Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open semifinals on January 28, 2026, after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured while leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 in their quarterfinal match. The 38-year-old Serbian, hampered by a foot blister, expressed sympathy for the 23-year-old Italian, who was dominating the contest. Djokovic now faces defending champion Jannik Sinner in the last four.
In a dramatic quarterfinal at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, Lorenzo Musetti produced a masterful display against Novak Djokovic, capturing the first two sets 6-4 and 6-3. The fifth-seeded Italian broke Djokovic's serve five times in those sets, showcasing variety and control that left the 10-time Australian Open champion struggling to find rhythm. Djokovic, returning after a walkover in the previous round due to Jakub Mensik's withdrawal, started sharply but faltered, committing numerous errors amid swirly conditions.
Djokovic's own challenges compounded the tension. Late in the second set, he took a medical timeout for treatment on a painful blister on the ball of his right foot, which had first appeared in his third-round win over Botic van de Zandschulp. Commentator John McEnroe noted on air, “That is very nasty … I can’t imagine that it’s not a factor,” highlighting how the injury affected Djokovic's movement, even at age 38.
The match turned abruptly in the third set. After Djokovic broke to lead 2-1, Musetti called for medical treatment on his upper right leg, an issue he later revealed began at the start of the second set. Despite attempting to continue, the pain intensified, forcing his retirement after two hours and eight minutes. This marked the second consecutive opponent withdrawal for Djokovic in the tournament's second week, a rare feat in the Open Era.
Post-match, Djokovic was candid in his on-court interview: “I don’t know what to say except for I feel sorry for him. He was a far better player. I was on my way home tonight.” He acknowledged Musetti's superiority and wished him a speedy recovery, adding that such outcomes had happened to him before, including his own retirement in last year's semifinals due to injury.
Musetti, visibly emotional in his press conference, described the moment as devastating. “Honestly, I never imagined the feeling of leading two sets to zero against Novak and playing like that... it is really painful,” he said. He confirmed feeling something strange in his right leg early in the second set but pushed on because he was performing well. Exams before the season had shown no issues, making the injury particularly frustrating. This echoes his retirement in last year's French Open semifinals against Carlos Alcaraz with a similar problem.
Djokovic's advancement secured his 103rd win at Melbourne Park, surpassing Roger Federer's record. The top four seeds now fill the men's semifinals, with Djokovic set to meet Jannik Sinner, who defeated Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Sinner leads their head-to-head 6-4, including the last five encounters. Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, remains the second-oldest men's semifinalist in Open Era history at the Australian Open.
