Novak Djokovic reached the Australian Open semi-finals after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured while leading by two sets. The Serb admits he was “on his way home” before fortune intervened.

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Djokovic Advances by Fate, Not Form, as Musetti’s Dream Ends in Heartbreak

Novak Djokovic’s relentless pursuit of history remains alive at the Australian Open, but not in the way many expected. The 38-year-old Serbian legend booked his place in the semi-finals only after an emotional and painful twist of fate saw Lorenzo Musetti retire injured while leading by two sets.

The Rod Laver Arena crowd watched in stunned silence as the Italian, who had been producing some of the finest tennis of his career, was forced to abandon the match early in the third set. Musetti had surged into a 6-4, 6-3 lead and looked poised for a career-defining victory before a thigh injury abruptly ended his dream.

At 3-1 down in the third set, after a medical timeout and a visibly laboured attempt to continue, Musetti walked to the net and shook hands. A member of his team had to support him as he left the court, the weight of disappointment etched across his face.

For Djokovic, the victory came with no celebration—only sympathy and honesty.

“He was a far better player. I was on my way home tonight,” Djokovic admitted afterward. “I don’t know what to say except that I feel really sorry for him. I really wish him a speedy recovery. He should have been the winner today, there’s no doubt.”

Those words captured the strange reality of a match where history was decided not by brilliance, but by misfortune.

A Night That Defied Expectation

Djokovic entered the quarter-final as the favourite, chasing a standalone 25th Grand Slam singles title—an achievement that would place him ahead of Margaret Court in the all-time record books. Yet from the outset, something felt off.

Though he broke Musetti early, the Serb quickly unraveled. A shocking miss on an overhead handed the break back, and from that moment, Djokovic’s rhythm deserted him. His game became riddled with errors, his body language tense and irritable.

The numbers told the story. Djokovic produced just one ace in the opening set, committed 18 unforced errors, and managed only nine winners. Musetti, by contrast, played with elegance and control, his one-handed backhand anchoring rallies and keeping Djokovic constantly guessing.

Even when Djokovic found himself in promising positions, he squandered them. At the start of the second set, he broke Musetti and raced to a 30-0 lead on serve, only to implode with five unforced errors in six points. The initiative slipped away, and the Italian continued to dictate play.

By the end of the second set, the arena buzzed with the possibility of a major upset. Musetti stood just one set away from his first Australian Open semi-final.

Then came the cruel twist.

A Rising Star Cut Down

Musetti’s level of play made the injury all the more shocking. After being broken early in the third set, he immediately called for the trainer. Though he attempted to push through, his movement and serve betrayed him. Moments later, he conceded defeat.

At just 23, Musetti had been on the verge of the biggest win of his career. Instead, he left the court in tears, a reminder of how unforgiving elite sport can be.

Djokovic, who battled his own physical issues early in his career, clearly understood the pain.

“It’s the worst feeling,” he said. “I’ve been there. You work so hard for moments like this, and then your body doesn’t cooperate.”

Ironically, Djokovic himself required treatment for blisters on his feet at the end of the second set. Had the match continued, it might have become a battle of endurance. Instead, fate intervened.

Fortune Smiles on a Legend

This was not the first time luck had smiled on Djokovic in this tournament. In the fourth round, Czech opponent Jakub Mensik withdrew before their match due to injury, handing Djokovic a walkover.

To break Court’s record and claim a historic 25th major, Djokovic will need to carefully manage his body, shorten points, and—perhaps—continue benefiting from a bit of fortune.

Yet even he would not have imagined reaching the semi-finals with such reliance on circumstance.

The Serbian great now stands just two wins away from history. But the performance against Musetti exposed vulnerabilities. If he is to lift an 11th Australian Open trophy, improvement is non-negotiable.

The Road Ahead

Waiting in the wings could be Jannik Sinner, the world number two and two-time defending champion. Sinner famously defeated Djokovic in the semi-finals two years ago, and he faces American eighth seed Ben Shelton for a place in the last four.

Should Djokovic and Sinner meet again, it will be a far sterner test than the troubled night against Musetti.

For now, Djokovic advances—but with humility rather than triumph. The scoreboard may read “win,” but the story of the night belongs to Lorenzo Musetti: a rising star who played inspired tennis, only to be denied by injury.

Tennis, in all its beauty, remains a sport where greatness and heartbreak often walk side by side.

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