Novak Djokovic won by zero sets in the fourth round of the 2026 Australian Open. He won the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open with zero sets.
And now he’s about to play in his 13th Australian Open semifinal.
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The 10-time Australian Open champion survived a two-set deficit in the quarterfinals on Wednesday when his opponent Lorenzo Musetti, the tournament’s fifth seed, led 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 before being forced to leave with an injury in the third set.
It was a cruel moment for the 23-year-old Italian, who entered the match with a record of 1 win and 9 losses against Djokovic.
Djokovic praised Musetti in his post-match interview, saying he deserved the win.
“I don’t know what to say other than feel sorry for him. I almost went home tonight because he was a much better player. I don’t know what to say, but this happens all the time in sports. It’s happened to me a few times. He had a two-set lead in the Grand Slam quarter and was in complete control. I don’t know what else to say. I wish him a speedy recovery and he definitely should have been the winner today.”
Luck has been a blessing in disguise lately for Djokovic, who advanced to the fourth round on a default after 16th seed Jakub Mensik withdrew with an abdominal injury. However, he has lost in the last two years, retiring after facing Alexander Zverev in 2025 and trying to reach the same stage where he lost to Jannik Sinner in 2024.
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Barring another quarter-final upset, it will be another sinner for Djokovic. The two-time reigning Australian Open champion will face world No. 8 Ben Shelton later Wednesday.
Djokovic is aiming for an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam men’s singles title, but the recent reigns of Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have extended his current drought to a third year. Djokovic hasn’t won a major tournament since the 2023 US Open, but if he doesn’t win this one, it will officially be the longest without a title since his first tournament in 2008.
