Novak Djokovic is into another Australian Open semi-final, but not in the fashion he would have imagined.
Heading into today’s clash, the Serbian was expected to breeze past Lorenzo Musetti, given his 9-1 head-to-head record.
However, when the Italian raced into a two-sets-to-love lead, that seemed set to change.
Musetti was classy and cutthroat as he slowly dismantled the ten-time champion, before early in the third set, disaster struck.
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Just after Novak Djokovic had called the physio for a blister-related issue, his opponent then had to do the same for what seemed like a far more severe issue.
In the end, Musetti’s groin issue proved too much, and he retired while on the brink of the Australian Open semi-finals.
Novak Djokovic reacts to Lorenzo Musetti’s retirement
Speaking on court afterwards, Djokovic was characteristically magnanimous when addressing the crowd.
After all, even he recognised the huge slice of luck he had just been granted, just days after Jakub Mensik’s withdrawal gave him a walkover in the fourth round.
He began by sending a message to Musetti: “I don’t know what to say except that I feel really sorry for him, and he was by far the better player. I was on my way home tonight.
“I don’t know what to say. These kinds of things happen in sport. It has happened to me a few times, but being in the quarters of a Grand Slam two sets to love up and being in full control, I don’t know what else to say. It is so unfortunate. I really wish him a speedy recovery, and he should have been a winner today; there is no doubt.”
Asked whether that walkover aided him or knocked him out of his rhythm, Djokovic added: “To be quite frank, I have no idea at this stage of my career what serves me and what doesn’t.
“I had a walkover in the fourth round and should have been beaten today, and I was two sets to love down and got the win. So I am going to double my prayers tonight and gratitude to the God for giving me this opportunity once again, so I am going to do my best in a couple of days to use it.”
Novak Djokovic was dominated by Lorenzo Musetti
That was not all Djokovic had to say about today’s match, although his assessment of his performance was a bleak one.
Despite a promising start, the match slowly began to slip away from him, and a two-sets-to-one deficit seemed insurmountable for the 39-year-old.
In that same on-court interview, he also noted: “The strategy worked very well for the first couple of games, and then it changed completely. I had four winners in the first two games and no unforced errors, and then the rest of the match I had four winners and probably 40 errors, but that’s what Lorenzo does to you. He makes you play when you think the point is finished, and it’s not.
How far do you think Novak Djokovic will go at the Australian Open?
“Obviously, a bit more wind today, swirly conditions, and when you attack him, you don’t know what to expect. Whether it’s going to be a passing shot, cross-court, or a slice, or he is going to full flat into your body or to your weakest shot, which is overhead. I think we have seen that today again! But what can I say? I tried my best, really.
“I can’t complain. Yes, a blister here and there, but nothing majorly bothered me. I was just not feeling the ball the first couple of sets but that is also due to his quality and variety in the game. I am just extremely lucky to get through this one today.”
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