Novak Djokovic advances to Australian Open semi-finals after Musetti withdraws with injury

MELBOURNE, Australia — Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday after Lorenzo Musetti was injured in the first two sets of his quarterfinal match and retired in the third set.

Musetti, the fifth seed, won the first two sets 6-4, 6-3, but injured his right leg in the third game of the third game and required a medical timeout for treatment. He played one more game but was unable to continue.

Djokovic, who leads 3-1 in the third set as he continues his bid for an 11th Australian title and a record 25th Grand Slam title, said he was lucky this time.

“I really feel sorry for him,” said the 38-year-old Djokovic. “He’s a better player – I’m on my way home tonight.”

“It happens in sports. It happened to me a few times,” he added, but “there’s no doubt he should have been the winner today.”

Djokovic broke early in the first set, just one point away from a 3-0 lead, before Musetti responded and took control of the match.

Things seemed to get more serious for Djokovic, who required a medical timeout after the second set due to severe blisters on the ball of his right foot. He also didn’t perform at his best.

But in tennis, no player takes any victory for granted. Just a few days ago, Jakub Mencic withdrew 24 hours before the fourth round due to an abdominal injury, and Djokovic successfully advanced to the quarterfinals.

Djokovic sees it from another angle. Nothing was more dramatic than last year, when he had to withdraw from the Australian Open semifinals with a torn leg muscle. When he retired immediately after losing the first set against Alexander Zverev, he was booed from the sidelines.

Djokovic next faces the winner of No. 8 Ben Shelton and two-time defending Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner in the quarterfinals later on Wednesday.