Djokovic Survives Chaos to Reach Australian Open Semis After Musetti Injury
The Australian Open semi-finals have arrived for Novak Djokovic, but not in the way anyone inside Rod Laver Arena expected and certainly not in the way the tennis world is used to seeing him dominate.
Djokovic is through to the last four after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire injured, despite holding a commanding two-set lead and looking firmly in control of the match. The crowd was stunned. The momentum was real. And the upset felt inevitable, until it suddenly wasn’t.
Musetti had outplayed Djokovic from the back of the court. His one-handed backhand was sharp, his movement was fluid and his confidence was unmistakable. Djokovic, chasing a historic 25th Grand Slam singles title, was uncharacteristically loose. Errors piled up. Frustration showed. He argued with himself, with his box and with the moment. For long stretches, it looked like his Australian Open run was about to end.
Then everything changed in an instant.
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Early in the third set, Musetti pulled up with a thigh injury. He tried to continue, but the movement was gone and the serve followed. After a brief medical timeout and one final attempt to push through, Musetti made the painful decision to retire. The match was over. Djokovic advanced. And a brilliant performance was cut short by cruel timing.
What made this moment so striking was Djokovic’s own reaction. He didn’t celebrate. He didn’t hide behind relief. He openly acknowledged that Musetti had been the better player and that, without the injury, he believed his tournament would have ended right there. It was a rare moment of vulnerability from a champion who has built his career on inevitability.
This result matters because it exposes the fine margins now surrounding Djokovic’s pursuit of history. At 38, he is no longer breezing through early rounds. He has dealt with physical issues, inconsistent form and now a path shaped by the misfortune of others. This is the second time in this tournament he has benefited from an opponent unable to continue.
Ahead, the challenge only intensifies. Potentially waiting is Jannik Sinner, the reigning champion and the man who ended Djokovic’s Melbourne run two years ago. That is a matchup that will test every part of Djokovic’s game, physically and mentally.
Djokovic is still alive. The dream of a record-breaking title remains intact. But this was a warning, not a statement.
Stay with us as the Australian Open reaches its decisive stages, because history is still in play and the next chapter could be unforgiving.
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