Jim Courier tells Novak Djokovic’s team what they must make him do tomorrow after his quarterfinal win

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Novak Djokovic was far from his best against Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals…

The 10-time champion looked to be heading out of the Australian Open, trailing the Italian by two sets to love.

But he was handed a huge slice of luck, as Musetti began to struggle with an injury.

At 6-4, 6-3, 1-3, Musetti retired against Djokovic, sending the Serb through to the semifinals.

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He’ll need to improve fast if he wants any chance of reaching the Australian Open final.

After the match, Jim Courier told Djokovic’s coaching team what they should make him do before his semifinal.

Jim Courier thinks Novak Djokovic’s team should make him train with ‘intensity’ before semifinal match

During TNT Sports’ post-match coverage, Courier had this to say about Djokovic’s quarterfinal win.

Novak Djokovic vs Lorenzo Musetti – Match stats

“It is a bit off-putting to see him have a down day this far into a tournament when he is building a bit of a head of steam,” he said.

“Maybe you can prescribe some of it to a lack of rhythm, maybe not having a match in the fourth round threw him off a little bit.”

Novak Djokovic’s route to the Australian Open semifinals

• 2026 Australian Open 1R [WIN] vs Pedro Martinez, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
• 2026 Australian Open 2R [WIN] vs Francesco Maestrelli, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2
• 2026 Australian Open 3R [WIN] vs Botic van de Zandschulp, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6
• 2026 Australian Open 4R [Walkover]
• 2026 Australian Open QF [WIN] vs Lorenzo Musetti, 4-6, 3-6, 3-1 (RET)

After beating Botic van de Zandschulp in his third-round match, Djokovic was handed a BYE into the quarterfinals when Jakub Mensik withdrew from the Australian Open.

Therefore, he enjoyed a few extra days off before his quarterfinal match, which Courier believes may have worked against him.

Courier then suggested what Djokovic’s coaching team should make him do before his next match.

“If I’m on his team tomorrow, I want him to go out there and have a good hard hour and go out there and play some points and get some intensity to it,” he said.

“Because he was out of sorts out there, and he is not going to be able to afford that in the semifinals.”

Courier is right, as Djokovic looked a step behind Musetti throughout their quarterfinal match.

And, with all due respect to Musetti, Djokovic’s next opponent will be even tougher.

Jannik Sinner, the 2024 and 2025 Australian Open champion, is up next.

Djokovic and Sinner have played 10 times on the ATP Tour.

Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record

The world number two leads their head-to-head 6-4 and has won their last five encounters.

Only time will tell if he can extend that winning record in Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic’s recent record in Grand Slam semifinals

Djokovic deserves plenty of credit for reaching another Grand Slam semifinal at 38.

But how has he performed in major semifinals lately?

• 2025 Australian Open SF – Lost to Alexander Zverev (three sets)
• 2025 French Open SF – Lost to Jannik Sinner (three sets)
• 2025 Wimbledon SF – Lost to Jannik Sinner (three sets)
• 2025 US Open SF – Lost to Carlos Alcaraz (three sets)

Djokovic qualified for all four Grand Slam semifinals in 2025, but failed to win a set.

Whether he can turn things around when he plays Sinner in Australia remains to be seen…

Djokovic will play Sinner in the 2026 Australian Open semifinals on Friday, January 30.