'Musetti Should Have Been...!' Djokovic Acknowledges He 'Was On His Way Home' Before Lucky Escape

Last Updated:January 28, 2026, 16:46 IST

Djokovic moved into the semi-finals after Musetti, who was leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 against the Serb, was forced into withdrawal due to an upper right leg injury.

Novak Djokovic, left, of Serbia reacts as Lorenzo Musetti of Italy walks from the court after withdrawing from their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)

Novak Djokovic admitted that he must significantly improve his performance to have any chance of winning his elusive 25th Grand Slam title. This admission came after he survived a major scare to reach the Australian Open semi-finals as Italian Lorenzo Musetti was leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 when he had to retire due to an upper right leg injury, which severely impeded his movement.

This fortunate turn of events greatly benefited Djokovic, a 10-time Melbourne winner plagued by errors, who will now face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or American eighth seed Ben Shelton for a place in the final.

This reprieve keeps alive his quest to secure a record 25th major title. Djokovic has been striving to surpass Margaret Court and achieve this milestone since his last major win at the US Open in 2023. However, this has become increasingly challenging with the rise of players like Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.

“I feel really sorry for him, he was the far better player, I was on my way home tonight," said Djokovic. “It has happened to me a few times. He was in full control. So unfortunate, I don’t know what else to say. He should have been the winner today, no doubt. I am extremely lucky to get through this one today. I have to play better. I mean, no doubt about it. I know that if I’m feeling well and the body is holding on and I’m playing well, then I always have a chance. It’s the semi-finals of a Grand Slam, so in terms of confidence and motivation, it’s always there. It must be. Otherwise, what’s the point of competing?"

Against Musetti, it seemed all but over for the 38-year-old. He struggled with an extraordinarily high unforced error rate, committing 18 in the first set alone and 32 overall before Musetti withdrew.

Djokovic started strong, holding serve comfortably and working three break points. A nervous Musetti saved two but misjudged a forehand, putting him 2-0 behind. The Italian settled and capitalised on Djokovic’s poor shots, breaking back in the next game. Musetti then won four consecutive games with remarkable court coverage.

Musetti had three break points to lead 5-2, but Djokovic fought back through an eight-minute game to hold on. However, Musetti took the set in 54 minutes and broke again to open the second set. Although Djokovic broke back, he continued to make errors, conceding serve for a fourth time. He was broken again while serving to stay in the set, with Musetti hitting a sensational forehand down the line to move two sets clear.

Musetti needed treatment after falling 2-1 down in the third set and was clearly in pain. He tried to continue but ultimately had no choice but to retire.

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