Novak Djokovic scraped into the Australian Open semi-finals in Melbourne on Wednesday, advancing not through dominance but misfortune as Lorenzo Musetti retired injured while holding a two-set lead.
Djokovic chased a standalone 25th Grand Slam title, but nothing about this performance screamed inevitability. He sprayed errors, scowled at his box, and struggled to control a match that Musetti owned.
The Italian played fearless tennis. His one-handed backhand dragged Djokovic out of rhythm, and his improved serve stopped the Serb from leaning on cheap returns.
Djokovic started brightly and broke early, but his focus quickly fractured. He handed momentum away with loose overheads and piled up unforced errors, allowing Musetti to take command.
The numbers told the story. Djokovic struck just one ace, hit 18 unforced errors, and finished the first set with more frustration than answers.
The second set followed the same pattern. Djokovic broke, moved 30-0 up, then unravelled again with five errors in six points and gifted Musetti the initiative.
Musetti looked calm and composed. He held firm, dictated rallies, and moved within touching distance of his first Australian Open semi-final.
Then the match lurched into silence. Musetti pulled up early in the third set, grabbed at his thigh, and watched the moment slip away.
He tried to continue, but his movement vanished and his serve collapsed. At 3-1 down, he walked to the net and ended his night.
Djokovic knew exactly what had happened. “He was a far better player – I was on my way home tonight,” he said, a blunt assessment that matched the evidence.
He offered sympathy rather than celebration. “I don’t know what to say except that I feel really sorry for him,” Djokovic added, before admitting, “He should have been a winner today, there’s no doubt.”
Djokovic did not escape unscathed himself. He received treatment for blisters late in the second set and would have faced serious physical questions if the match continued.
This marked his second slice of fortune in a week after Jakub Mensik withdrew injured before their fourth-round meeting. Djokovic has not won a set since the third round.
The body keeps bailing him out, but the tennis will need to arrive soon. Djokovic will have to shorten points, conserve energy, and hope luck stays loyal.
A potential semi-final against Jannik Sinner looms large. The two-time defending champion has beaten Djokovic here before, and he will not miss chances Musetti created so freely.
