Fortune is smiling on Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open.
The fourth-seeded Serbian was down two sets to none in the quarterfinals on Wednesday in Melbourne when his opponent, fifth-seeded Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, retired due to an injury.
Musetti was ahead 6-4, 6-3, 1-2 when he got hurt and used a medical timeout to receive treatment on his right thigh. He tried to continue but lost the next game before halting the match.
Djokovic said postmatch, “I don’t know what to say except that I feel really sorry for him. He was a far better player, I was on my way home tonight.
“I don’t know what to say, these kinds of things happen in sport. It 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 mean, so unfortunate. I don’t know what else I can say. I wish him a speedy recovery. And he should have been the winner today, there’s no doubt.”
The result means Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, is through to the semifinals even though he hasn’t won a set since the third round. He received a fourth-round walkover when 16th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic withdrew due to an abdominal injury.
Djokovic, 38, is now two match victories away from capturing his 25th career Grand Slam title, which would break a tie with Margaret Court for the most in tennis history.
Next up for Djokovic will be the winner of the late Wednesday quarterfinal between two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner of Italy, the second seed, and eighth-seeded Ben Shelton of the United States.
–Field Level Media
