Musetti Takes First Set vs Djokovic at AO Quarters
Synopsis
Australian Open live coverage featured Novak Djokovic’s path to a dramatic semifinal after Lorenzo Musetti’s injury-enforced retirement while holding a two-set lead in their quarterfinal. The Italian was up 6-4, 6-3 before feeling a groin issue in the third set and pulling out. Djokovic admitted he was “very lucky” and expected to lose before the injury. He will next face either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton as he continues his bid for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
There was a remarkable turn of events in the live Australian Open action on Wednesday as Novak Djokovic made it through to the semifinals when Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire, injured while two sets up in their quarterfinal clash. The Italian fifth seed had been in control 6-4, 6-3 when he appeared to strain his groin and could not finish the match. Djokovic said he had been “very fortunate” and was going home before his opponent’s injury flared up during the third set.
Musetti was playing brilliant tennis and absolutely owning the quarterfinal match, against the 38-year-old Serbian legend. The 23-year-old Italian had taken the first two sets by a score of 6-4, 6-3, and he seemed on his way to the biggest win of his career. And then a catastrophe happened in his first service game of the third set when he tweaked a groin muscle.
The injury was so bad that Musetti could barely move around the court. The Italian could not continue after going 3-1 down in the third and shook hands with Djokovic at the net midgame. It was a painful moment for Musetti, who was forced to retire from his French Open semifinal last season against Carlos Alcaraz due to injury.
Djokovic Says He Should Not Have Won
Djokovic was surprisingly candid after this most dispiriting of defeats, declaring that he had been outplayed and that losing was what he deserved. “All I can say is I’m sorry for him, because he’s far better play than he’s been playing,” Djokovic said. I was hitchhiking home tonight. It’s just that to be in the quarters of a grand slam and two sets to love up and having full control as well, it’s just unfortunate. He was the winner today, there is no doubt.”
The Serbian star was quick to recognise his good fortune in reaching another semifinal. “I’m just very lucky to have got through this one today,” he said. I got a walkover in the fourth round and today I should have lost, I mean two sets down, but I managed to come back. I’m gonna do double prayers tonight for sure, and thanks to God for really blessing me with this opportunity again. I’m going to try and use it in a couple of days, do my best.”
How Djokovic’s Path Has Unfolded
Serbian great two sets down to Musetti when injury forces the Italian’s retirement
Will play either defending champion Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton in the Australian Open semifinal
Djokovic Not Satisfied With the Way He Played
Despite reaching the semifinals, Djokovic knows that he will have to lift himself dramatically for Friday’s match. The fourth round walkover he was given (after Jakub Mensik retired due to injury) seems to have thrown off his rhythm and timing on the court.
“I will watch that one with my team and I will try to get some information about both of these guys’ games. But, I’m only focused on my game and nothing else. I played very well in the whole tournament. For me today, I certainly didn’t turn up and do my job well enough but that’s another day at the office and in a few days hopefully I can come out here and be at my best because that’s going to be needed.”
What Went Wrong for Djokovic
He didn’t feel the ball well,” Djokovic said, attributing his struggles to that feeling, but acknowledging the quality and variety Musetti’s play brought him. “I felt like I wasn’t hitting the ball great today, the first couple of sets. But that’s also for his quality and his variety in the game,” the 38-year-old added.
The Serb acknowledged getting “really lucky” to advance, and vowed to take full advantage of his reprieve. His route to the semifinals has had something of a flukiness, with a walkover in the fourth round and then the opponent’s injury retirement while he was losing badly in the quarterfinal. That kind of luck doesn’t come around very often, even for a player as great as Djokovic.
Women’s Semifinals Set
Earlier in the day, Elena Rybakina thwarted Iga Swiatek’s hopes of a career grand slam with a resounding 7-5, 6-1 victory in the women’s quarterfinals. Rybakina, the 2023 runner-up, will face sixth-seeded Jessica Pegula in the semifinals. Pegula advanced to her first Australian Open semifinal with a 6-2, 7-6 victory over Amanda Anisimova.
The women’s semifinals are now in place, while the men will wait on the result of defending champion Jannik Sinner’s match against American Ben Shelton. The victor of that will meet Djokovic in what should be an intriguing semifinal.
Musetti’s Cruel Pattern of Injuries
It was particularly hard for Musetti as he had suffered from injury problems during key moments in major tournaments. At last season’s French Open, in the semifinals against Carlos Alcaraz, he was forced to retire before being able to complete his quest for a spot in his first grand slam final.
Now, with a chance to knock off one of the greatest players in tennis history and advance to the semifinals of the Australian Open, Musetti has been felled once more. The Italian was playing the best tennis of his life, overwhelming Djokovic with depth and quality that had the 24-time grand slam champion off kilter and facing defeat.
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