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Novak Djokovic of Serbia and Lorenzo Musetti of Italy embrace at the net after their Men’s Singles Quarterfinal match at the 2026 Australian Open.
All eyes were on Novak Djokovic, 38, and Lorenzo Musetti, 23, during the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open on January 27.
Musetti entered the matchup with a 9-1 record against Djokovic, his sole win coming from the Monte Carlo Masters in 2023. Djokovic, who already has 10 Australian Open titles under his belt, entered the quarterfinals with extra rest after his fourth-round opponent dropped out due to injury.
Musetti, who’s looking to win his first-ever Grand Slam title, looked to be well on his way to the semifinals before a shocking turn of events in the third set.
Musetti was up two sets, 6-4, 6-3, and in the midst of the third set, 1-3, the Italian tennis star suddenly retired due to what appeared to be a groin injury.
After Djokovic punched his ticket to what will be his 13th career Australian Open semifinal, his 54th career semifinal, he shared a brutally honest message about his opponent’s injury.
Novak Djokovic Admits ‘I Was On My Way Home’ Before Lorenzo Musetti Retired
GettyNovak Djokovic after winning the Men’s Singles Quarterfinal against Lorenzo Musetti at the 2026 Australian Open.
“I don’t know what to say except for I feel sorry for him,” Djokovic told reporters after the match. “He was the far better player, I was on my way home tonight. Don’t know what to say, these kind of things happen in sport.
“It happened to me a few times. You know, being in quarters of a grand slam up two sets to love up and being in full control. I mean, so unfortunate. I don’t know what else to say. I wish him a speedy recovery and he should’ve been the winner today no doubt.”
Djokovic didn’t compete in the fourth round after his opponent, Jakub Mensik, withdrew due to injury. The veteran understands he seems to be skating by at this tournament. “I had a walkover in the last round and today should have been beaten. Two sets down and I get the win,” he added, per BBC.
“I am going to double my prayers tonight, that’s for sure. Gratitude to God to giving me this opportunity once again. I am going to do my best in a couple of days to use it.”
Fans Strongly Reacted to Novak Djokovic’s Luck at the Australian Open
GettySerbia’s Novak Djokovic (L) comforts Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti after Musetti retired injured during their men’s singles quarter-final match at the 2026 Australian Open.
Nobody wants to win due to an opponent’s injury, Djokovic included. However, viewers watching him move through two rounds with minimal effort drew a strong reaction on social media.
One fan posted, “How lucky can Djokovic actually be? Might be the luckiest tennis player of all time. Should’ve been out already, Mensik didn’t play (walkover). Was getting cooked by Musetti today before injury saved him again. Now he’s in the semifinals without really playing.”
Another fan wrote in part, “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good. 😭.”
Emily Bicks covers the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Bills, Seahawks and Chiefs. She’s contributed to Heavy since 2019 and has interviewed some of the biggest stars in sports, including Jerry Rice, Shaquille O’Neal and Stefon Diggs. More about Emily Bicks
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