Novak Djokovic entered his quarterfinal with three full days of rest after Jakub Mensik withdrew injured in round four. Momentum had been slipping, and an exit loomed had play continued. Instead, fortune smiled again as Lorenzo Musetti retired, handing the Serbian icon a bittersweet passage forward and an abrupt end to Musetti’s Australian Open run.

Lorenzo Musetti retired during a high-voltage AO quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic. The Serbian moved into the semifinals as a result. The match stood at 6-4, 6-3, 3-1 when Musetti stopped due to a right-leg injury.

At that point, Djokovic was clearly trailing and struggling to turn the match around. The Italian had full control before calling for treatment and eventually retirement. The sudden ending shocked the crowd and players alike.

After the match, Djokovic spoke with honesty and sympathy. “I don’t know what to say except for I feel sorry for him. He was the far better player, I was on my way home tonight.” He admitted the result did not reflect the flow of the contest.

Djokovic continued by reflecting on the cruel nature of sport. “Don’t know what to say, these kinds of things happen in sport. It happened to me a few times. You know, being in quarters of a grand slam up 2 sets to love up and being in full control.” He concluded, “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.”

Novak Djokovic is chasing a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title. Against Lorenzo Musetti, he looked unsettled. His game was loose, full of errors, and marked by visible frustration before a stunned crowd.

Musetti played inspired tennis from the start. The Italian controlled rallies and dictated play. He won the first two sets and appeared firmly on course for a place in the semi-finals.

Early in the third set, the momentum shifted abruptly. Musetti pulled up while moving for a shot. He immediately showed discomfort and struggled to continue as concern spread around the stadium.

The fifth seed took a medical timeout for treatment on his thigh. Despite efforts to recover, he could not serve or move properly. At 3-1 down in the third set, he walked to the net and retired.

The scene was emotional. A heartbroken Musetti needed support from a member of his team as he left the court. The crowd responded with sympathy and applause for his brave performance.

Djokovic also faced physical issues during the match. He received treatment for blisters on his feet at the end of the second set. Had the contest continued, his conditioning may have been seriously tested.

The Serb has not won a set since his third-round victory over Botic van de Zandschulp on 24 January. This escape followed another close call when he nearly faced disqualification earlier in the tournament.

To move past Margaret Court’s record of 24 major singles titles, Djokovic must conserve energy. Short points, smart scheduling, and continued good fortune remain essential as he progresses deeper into the event.

Despite reaching the semi-finals, Djokovic knows improvement is required. Two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner could await next. With Sinner facing Ben Shelton next, Djokovic also surpassed a Roger Federer record as he advanced.

Novak Djokovic breaks Roger Federer’s Open Era record at the Australian Open

Novak Djokovic added another milestone simply by stepping onto the court on Wednesday. Even before the first ball, history was already within reach for the Serbian legend.

By appearing in that match, Djokovic became just the third man to play 1,400 tour-level matches. Only Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer had previously reached that mark. It underlined his extraordinary longevity at the elite level.

He now holds a 1167–233 win-loss record at the tour level, according to the ATP Win/Loss Index.

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The victory also carried major historical weight. As per OptaAce, Djokovic now owns the outright record for most men’s singles wins at the Australian Open in the Open Era. He reached 103 wins at Melbourne Park.

That total pushed him past Roger Federer. Federer finished his Australian Open career with 102 wins. Djokovic now stands alone at the top of that list, adding another chapter to his dominance in Australia.

Interestingly, those 103 Australian Open wins also surpassed Djokovic’s own tally at Wimbledon. At the Championships, he has recorded 102 match victories. Australia is now clearly his most successful Grand Slam venue.

At 38, Djokovic also compares favorably with other legends. Among Connors, Federer, and Djokovic, he owns the best winning percentage. His rate stands at an impressive 83.4%.

Only Rafael Nadal and Ivan Lendl, besides those three, have played more than 1,300 tour-level matches. Djokovic’s winning percentage is also the best among all 29 members of the ATP No. 1 Club.

Still, concerns remain. His level against Musetti exposed some vulnerabilities. A tougher test may await in the semifinals, a stage where he retired last year and allowed Alexander Zverev into the final.

Now, as Djokovic takes time to recover, the big question lingers. With history already made, can he still find enough sharpness to push deeper and reach the finals at this year’s Australian Open?