Lorenzo Musetti retires against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open QF | ATP Tour

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Musetti retires vs. Djokovic after taking a two-set lead in the Australian Open QF

10-time record champion Djokovic will face either Sinner or Shelton in the last four

January 28, 2026

Lorenzo Musetti’s hopes of ending his Grand Slam drought against Novak Djokovic were dashed in brutal fashion on Wednesday afternoon in Melbourne. The Italian was forced to retire when he was leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 in the Australian Open quarter-final match between the two teams.

Entering Rod Laver Arena having lost all three of his previous meetings with Djokovic at majors, Musetti produced a superb quarter-final display to open two sets, but appeared to injure his upper right leg in the third game of the third set. Although the Italian tried to continue after receiving treatment from the physio at 1-2, he was eventually forced to retire after two hours and eight minutes of play.

“I don’t know what to say except that I feel sorry for him and he was the best player,” Djokovic said in his court interview. “I was on my way home tonight. These things happen in sports. It’s happened to me a few times, but to be part of a Grand Slam, two sets that I love, and I’m in full control, it’s very unfortunate. I don’t know what else to say and I wish him a speedy recovery. He should have won today, no doubt.”

By entering the court on Wednesday, Djokovic became the third man (after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer) to compete in 1,400 tour-level tournaments. After Musetti retired, the Serbian again passed Federer to claim sole ownership of the record for most Australian Open singles wins (103). But the former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings will know he will have to put in a significantly improved performance if he is to beat two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the last four.

Before his injury, World No. 5 Musetti rarely looked back after trailing 0-2 early in the first set. He broke Djokovic five times in the first two sets, according to Infosys Stats, and the Serbian – who was playing his first match since Saturday after advancing to the fourth round via walkover – struggled to find a rhythm with his aggressive game plan from the start.

“The strategy worked very well in the first few games, then it changed completely,” said Djokovic, who now leads the Lexus ATP Head2Head 10-1 over Musetti. “Four winners in the first two games, and no unforced errors. Then in the remaining game I had four more winners and 40 errors. But that’s what Lorenzo does to you.

“To make him play. If you think the point is over, it’s not. Obviously, more wind today, moving conditions, and when you attack him you don’t know what to expect… What can I say. I tried my best. Yes, I have a blister here and there, but nothing that bothered me too much. I couldn’t just feel the ball today, but because of his first quality and his first games. I was very lucky to go through this today.”