Novak Djokovic reaches the semi-finals of the 2026 Australian Open as Lorenzo Musetti retires injured despite leading by two sets at Rod Laver Arena
L. Musetti vs N. Djokovic | Australian Open
Men's Singles | Quarter-final | 28.01.2026 | Rod Laver Arena
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Finished
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L. Musetti (5)
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N. Djokovic (4)
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Live Updates
Updated 28/01/2026 at 07:45 GMT
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- Highlights
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THE BEST OF THE ACTION AS AN INSPIRED LORENZO MUSETTI IS FORCED TO RETIRE
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Highlights: Djokovic survives huge scare to reach semis as Musetti retires when leading
Video credit: TNT Sports
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07:12
DJOKOVIC WILL NOW MEET JANNIK SINNER OR BEN SHELTON IN THE LAST FOUR
The Serbinator was not at his best today and will need to find a higher gear if he's to reach an 11th Australian Open final.
The 38-year-old leaked 32 unforced errors, fired 26 winners to Lorenzo's 29 and was broken five times.
07:07
VIDEO: DJOKOVIC ADMITS HE IS LUCKY TO STILL BE IN THE 2026 AUSTRALIAN OPEN
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'I was on my way home tonight' - Djokovic laments 'unfortunate' result as Musetti retires with lead
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07:05
VIDEOS: MUSETTI'S INJURY NIGHTMARE SUDDENLY ENDS HIS AUSSIE ADVENTURE
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Watch huge drama as injured Musetti calls for trainer when two-sets up
Video credit: TNT Sports
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Watch dramatic moment Musetti retires when leading Djokovic by two sets
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07:00
EXPERT REACTION: MATS WILANDER ON MUSETTI'S UNFORTUNATE INJURY BLOW
"He played a great first, two sets.," Wilander told TNT Sports.
"He played tactically correct, I thought. He was hitting the ball beautifully. I think we all could see Novak wasn't playing at his best. He was missing quite a lot. Not by much – it was clear what the game-plan was from Novak, but he was missing by a little bit trying to go down the line.
"(For) Lorenzo Musetti, that’s just so unfortunate when you’re playing that well."
He added: "There's no way you can continue to play when you have an injury like that, so that’s going to be devastating for Lorenzo Musetti because he’s played a great tournament. He's improved so much but this is just detrimental for him."
06:55
DJOKER'S DATA
- Djokovic is now the second-oldest Men’s Singles semi-finalist at the Australian Open in the Open Era, younger only than Ken Rosewall in 1976 and 1977 (surpassing Roger Federer’s last in 2020).
- Djokovic is the player with the outright most wins in Men’s Singles at the Australian Open in the Era (103, surpassing Roger Federer).
All stats via Opta.
06:49
DJOKOVIC REACTS TO REACHING THE SEMI FINALS AS MUSETTI RETIRES INJURED
"I don’t know what to say. I feel really sorry for him.
He was by far the better player. I was on my way home tonight.
"Don’t know what to say, these kinds of things happen in sport. It happened to me a few times...
"Being in the quarter finals of a Grand Slam, being two sets up and being in full control… so unfortunate.
"I don’t know what else I can say. I really wish him a speedy recovery and he should have been a winner today, no doubt."
He added: "I'm extremely lucky to get through this one today."
Image credit: Getty Images
06:45
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GAME, SET AND MATCH! - MUSETTI 6-4 6-3 1-3 DJOKOVIC
It’s all over - Musetti cannot continue!
The Italian is trailing on serve and after double faulting to trail 15-40, he decides his movement is impeded and he must retire.
That’s such awful luck for the fifth seed.
Djokovic is into yet another Melbourne semi-final, but it's not the way he’d want to progress.
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Image credit: Getty Images
06:43
MUSETTI 6-4 6-3 1-3 DJOKOVIC
Musetti is not moving well out there and he’s teeing off to try and keep points short.
A sensational backhand down the line gets him to Pulp (30-30) but Djokovic somehow claws back a rocket return to the open court. It’s sheer elasticity from the Serb, but what’s new?
The fourth seed then slams away a forecourt bounce smash to consolidate and begin what he hopes will be the first steps of a big, big comeback…
06:39
VIDEO: DJOKOVIC UNIMPRESSED WITH JAMES KEOTHAVONG
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Watch: Djokovic fumes 'you couldn't give me a heads-up?' in umpire exchange over warning
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06:37
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MEDICAL TIME-OUT!
Musetti responds to that shocker of a service game by calling for the physio.
There seems to be an issue with the Italian's groin and there will now be a short delay for him to receive treatment.
The plot thickens!
06:36
VIDEO: DJOKOVIC'S CLASSY ACT OF SPORTSMANSHIP
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'I touched it' - Watch as Djokovic shows 'sportsmanship of highest order' to concede point
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06:33
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BREAK! – MUSETTI 6-4 6-3 1-2 DJOKOVIC
Here we go!
Musetti miscues a poor forehand to follow a double fault and suddenly Novak gets a look at three break points.
The Serb goes on the attack and a backhand down the line proves too good as Lorenzo gives up on the point off his short defensive slice, allowing the fourth seed to sweep a winner to the open court and break to love.
06:31
MUSETTI 6-4 6-3 1-1 DJOKOVIC
That’s more like it.
Djokovic lands the big first serve and rushes through a hold to 15 to quickly get on the board.
You can never rule out the 24-time major winner and if he reduces the cheap errors, this could yet get interesting.
06:28
MUSETTI 6-4 6-3 1-0 DJOKOVIC
Musetti opens Set 3 with a hold to 15 as a clutch serve puts a halt to Nole’s latest hopes on the return.
It’s been far from vintage Djoker today with his unforced error count now pushing beyond the 30 mark – 32 to be exact. Indeed, his latest indiscretion sees him slap a woeful bounce smash into the net.
He’s hit the comeback trail against Musetti many times before, but it’s going to have to ignite soon here and the 38-year-old will definitely need to tighten up his game to have a chance.
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'Quite remarkable!' - Watch as Musetti comes up with 'outrageous' passing shot
Video credit: TNT Sports
06:20
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SET! – MUSETTI 6-4 6-3 DJOKOVIC
That’s top-class sportsmanship from Djokovic – but it could cost him his hopes of a 25th major title at the 2026 AO.
The Serb hits back from 0-15 with an ace to lead 30-15 but then some drama unfolds.
The chair umpire registers the next point in his favour as Musetti flashes a pick-up wide, but Nole tells him he touched the net and concedes the point.
It’s a wonderful gesture but makes his life difficult from there as Lorenzo pushes to deuce and earns a set point.
The 10-time champion wipes it out with a devilish angle on a crosscourt volley but jabs a backhand long under real pressure to cough up a second.
Musetti makes it count this time as he despatches a sensational forehand down the line on the run to secure a two-set lead!
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Image credit: Getty Images
06:11
MUSETTI 6-4 5-3 DJOKOVIC
Musetti floats a miscued backhand slice way long to open the door again at Pulp (30-30).
He quickly slams it shut with a third ace of the match before Djokovic helps him over the line with another poor forehand that flies way off the island.
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'What a return!' - Watch as Musetti smashes brilliant backhand winner against Djokovic
Video credit: TNT Sports
06:05
MUSETTI 6-4 4-3 DJOKOVIC
Djokovic sandwiches a horror show of a dropper with two blistering forehand winners to the Italian’s right-hand corner.
The 24-time major winner then hammers down his second ace of the match to seal a hold to 15 and stay firmly on contention.
06:01
MUSETTI 6-4 4-2 DJOKOVIC
Musetti demonstrates his flair and artistry as he follows a forehand down the line with a delicious backhand dropper, but a 30-15 lead quickly evaporates when he flashes a forehand on the run long and an inside-in attempt into the alley.
Djokovic dictates on the break point but skips around a short ball and drags a poor forehand tamely into the net.
The Serb produces astonishing defence at deuce, but Lorenzo keeps unloading and a ferocious crosscourt forehand eventually puts him in charge.
The fifth seed doesn’t falter from there as a mid-court inside-in forehand skims the tape on its way to sealing a rollercoaster hold.
05:55
MUSETTI 6-4 3-2 DJOKOVIC
Djokovic blasts a crosscourt forehand winner to halt any thoughts of a Musetti comeback after the Italian had corked a trademark backhand down the line to press from 40-15 down.