Former champion Novak Djokovic is through to last 4 in Melbourne after frontrunner Lorenzo Musetti suffers groin injury.
Published On 28 Jan 2026
An “extremely lucky” Novak Djokovic survived a huge scare to reach the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday when Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt while two sets up, keeping alive the Serbian great’s bid for a 25th Grand Slam crown.
The fifth-seeded Italian was well on top and leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 when he withdrew after treatment on his upper right leg, with his movement badly impeded.
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It was a huge stroke of luck for the error-riddled 10-time Melbourne winner Djokovic, who will now play either defending champion Jannik Sinner or American eighth seed Ben Shelton for a place in the final.
The let-off kept alive his bid to secure a record 25th major title.
Djokovic has been trying to move past Margaret Court and clinch the landmark since his last one at the US Open in 2023.
It has proved increasingly difficult with the emergence of 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.”
Victory snatched from the jaws of defeat
With the victory against Musetti, Djokovic claimed sole ownership of most singles wins at Melbourne Park, surpassing Roger Federer with his 103rd.
It also put him into a 54th Slam semifinal to extend his own record.
But it looked to all be over for the 38-year-old.
He was his own worst enemy with an extraordinarily high unforced error rate,