Djokovic advances to semi-finals following Musetti’s injury withdrawal
Novak Djokovic advanced to the semi-finals of the Australian Open after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire due to injury during their quarter-final match, reports BritPanorama.
Djokovic, who was underperforming significantly, had been trailing two sets to love, losing 6-4, 6-3 when Musetti withdrew. The Serbian veteran had accumulated 32 unforced errors by that point, demonstrating a disappointing display throughout the match.
Musetti’s injury appeared to occur during the opening game of the third set. Despite initially continuing, he opted to retire while trailing 3-1, shaking hands with Djokovic, who looked visibly surprised by the turn of events.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic expressed his disbelief at his good fortune, acknowledging Musetti’s superiority up to that moment. “He was the far better player; I was on my way home,” Djokovic admitted, later adding, “He should have been the winner today, no doubt.”
After overcoming his own injury struggles last year at the same tournament, Djokovic displayed compassion for Musetti. “I don’t know what to say except that I feel really sorry for him,” he commented. “Being in the quarters of a slam, two sets to love up, in full control, so unfortunate. I wish him a speedy recovery.”
Despite his interrupted match, Djokovic commented on his performance, admitting that his tactical approach faltered after a decent start. He noted, “The strategy worked well for the first couple of games, but then it changed. Completely.”
While Djokovic acknowledged the impact of Musetti’s unpredictable shot selection on his rhythm, he also looked ahead, revealing he would review the match footage to prepare for his next opponent, set to be either defending champion Jannik Sinner or American Ben Shelton.
With one eye on the championship, Djokovic stated, “I played really well until today throughout the whole tournament. Today I am definitely not happy with my performance, but it’s another day in the office and hopefully in another day’s time I can be at my best because that’s what’s going to be needed.”
His journey continues, now marked by the challenge of refining his game as he pursues a 25th Grand Slam title.
