Novak Djokovic, a ten-time Australian Open champion, secured his 13th semifinal spot at Melbourne Park after Lorenzo Musetti retired with a two-set lead. Musetti, the fifth seed, was ahead 6-4 6-3 before sustaining a right leg injury during the third set. Djokovic, who played his 1,400th tour-level match, became the third man to achieve this milestone.
Musetti, who had lost all previous major matches against Djokovic, displayed a strong performance, leading by two sets. However, he had to retire due to his leg injury after attempting to continue following treatment. Djokovic, now the second-oldest man in the Open Era to reach the Australian Open semis, will face the winner of the match between Jannik Sinner and Ben Shelton in the semifinals on Friday.
Expressing sympathy for Musetti, Djokovic acknowledged his opponent’s superior play and wished him a speedy recovery. Musetti’s polished performance had put him on the brink of a major upset, dominating the first two sets against Djokovic. Despite Djokovic’s resistance, Musetti’s strong serving and groundstrokes gave him the upper hand, leading to a potential quarterfinal victory.
