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Djokovic Advances to Australian Open Semi-Finals as Musetti Retires Injured

Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of a historic 25th Grand Slam singles title remains on course, albeit in deeply unfortunate circumstances, after he progressed to the semi-finals of the Australian Open following Lorenzo Musetti’s injury-induced retirement while holding a two-set lead.

The quarter-final at Melbourne Park took a dramatic and unexpected turn when Lorenzo Musetti, playing some of the finest tennis of his career, was forced to withdraw early in the third set. The 23-year-old Italian had outplayed a strangely subdued Novak Djokovic, racing into a 6-4, 6-3 advantage and appearing firmly in control of the contest.

However, shortly after the start of the third set, Musetti began to struggle with a thigh injury. Despite receiving on-court medical treatment, his movement and serve were clearly compromised. Trailing 3-1, he made the difficult decision to retire, leaving the Rod Laver Arena crowd stunned and the match unresolved in sporting terms.

Djokovic was candid and empathetic in his post-match assessment, openly acknowledging that the momentum had been firmly with his opponent. The Serbian, who turns 38 later this year, admitted he had been second-best for much of the encounter, producing an uncharacteristically error-prone display that included 18 unforced errors in the opening set alone. His frustration was evident throughout, frequently directing animated gestures towards his coaching box.

The world number one also required treatment for blisters on his feet late in the second set, raising questions about his own physical condition. It marked the second consecutive round in which fortune has favoured Djokovic, following the earlier withdrawal of Jakub Mensik in the fourth round. Notably, Djokovic has not completed a full match victory since his third-round win on 24 January, a statistic that underlines the unusual nature of his path to the last four.

Awaiting him in the semi-finals is Jannik Sinner, the two-time defending champion, who continued his impressive run with a straight-sets victory over Ben Shelton. Sinner has won six of his last seven meetings against Djokovic, adding further intrigue to a match-up that may well define the tournament.

For Djokovic to surpass the long-standing benchmark of Margaret Court and claim a record-breaking 25th major title, he will need to raise his level significantly, manage his physical workload carefully, and rediscover the precision that has defined his dominance in Melbourne over the years.

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