The Australian Open 2026 quarterfinal between Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti ended in a way no player or fan wants. Musetti, who led by two sets, retired due to injury with the score at 6-4, 6-3, 1-3, sending Djokovic into the semifinals. It was a harsh twist for the Italian after such a bright start, and a reminder that in tennis, health can decide even the biggest matches.

Match turns on a painful twist

Musetti, the No. 5 seed, came out sharp. He took the first two sets 6-4 and 6-3. His shot-making was clean and brave. His plan worked. But as the third set began, the match changed. Djokovic, the No. 4 seed, went up 3-1. Then Musetti could not continue and retired.

The score tells the story: a lead for Musetti, a pushback from Djokovic, and then an injury that ended the contest. No one celebrates a win like this. Still, the rules are clear. Djokovic moves on to the last four.

“It felt like a classic in the making, and then the air went out of the arena.”

What the scoreline tells us

At 6-4, 6-3, 1-3, Musetti was ahead on sets but behind in the third. Djokovic had started to find rhythm. He is famous for slow starts and strong finishes. We have seen him flip matches with patience and pressure many times.

That shift was just beginning. Whether Djokovic would have completed the comeback, we will never know. What we do know is that Musetti showed he can trouble the very best on a big stage. That matters for his future.

“Credit to Musetti for the lead; credit to Novak for hanging around. That’s real Grand Slam tennis.”

Djokovic at 38: the chase for No. 25

Djokovic is 38 years old and still standing deep in the final week in Melbourne. His record here is the stuff of legend: 10 Australian Open singles titles. He is chasing a record-extending 25th major title. He has also equaled records for major appearances, another sign of his long and steady run at the top.

Even without his very best tennis early in this match, Djokovic did what champions do. He stayed close. He asked questions. He forced a response. The third set showed the start of that familiar rally. The retirement made it official: he is in another Australian Open semifinal.

Quick facts: Djokovic’s numbers

• Age: 38; right-handed; height: 188 cm; weight: 77 kg
• Singles ranking: No. 4; 2026 Australian Open seed: No. 4
• Career singles titles: 101
• Career win-loss: 1163-233
• Australian Open appearances: 20; Australian Open titles: 10

Musetti’s step forward, cut short

This will sting for Lorenzo Musetti. As the No. 5 seed, he looked ready for a statement win. Two sets to love on Rod Laver Arena against Djokovic is proof of growth. His variety and touch were working. That is big progress.

The injury ruined the chance to finish what he started. But this level will stay with him. If he can recover well, he will bring this belief into the rest of the season. He showed he belongs in the deep end of a major.

A loaded draw and the Sinner shadow

This Australian Open has been deep with talent. Every fourth-round player was seeded for the first time in the Open Era since 2001. That means no easy paths. Every match is a test.

Over all of this sits the recent rise of Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion. His presence shapes the story in Melbourne. For Djokovic, beating this kind of field to chase No. 25 would add even more weight to his legacy.

“Even at 38, Novak keeps finding answers. The field is stacked, but history is in play.”

What this means for the semifinals

Djokovic moves on. The path was not smooth, but the destination is the same: the semifinals in Melbourne. He has built a career on peaking late in tournaments. He knows how to manage the big points and the big days.

There will be questions: How much energy did this match cost him mentally? How sharp will he be in the next round? But his track record here is clear. When the court is quick and the night air is cool, he is very hard to beat.

Big picture: the so what

For Djokovic, this is another step toward a record that may stand for a long time. For Musetti, it is a lesson and a marker. He showed the level, now he needs the health to match it. For the tournament, it is another reminder that the margin between glory and heartbreak can be very small.

Injuries happen. They are part of sport. But what we saw before the retirement was real: Musetti pushing a legend, and a legend starting to push back. That is tennis at a major. It is why we watch.

Now, all eyes move to the semifinals. Djokovic is still alive in Melbourne. History is still on the table.