Novak Djokovic offered a heartfelt and brutally honest assessment after his Australian Open quarterfinal against Lorenzo Musetti took an unfortunate turn. He admitted that he was on the brink of elimination before the Italian’s injury changed the course of the match.
The quarterfinal clash between Djokovic and Musetti took place on November 27 at the Rod Laver Arena. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was trailing by two sets (4-6, 3-6) and struggling to find answers against a dominant Musetti, who looked in complete control of the contest. However, the match ended prematurely after the Italian was forced to retire due to injury, handing the Serb an unexpected passage into the semifinals.
Following this showdown in the on-court interview, Djokovic did not shy away from acknowledging Musetti’s superiority on the night. While feeling sorry for his opponent, he admitted that he would have been on his way home if Musetti had continued the match.
“I don’t know what to say except for I feel sorry for him. He was the far better player, I was on my way home tonight. Don’t know what to say, these kind of things happen in sport. It happened to me a few times. You know, being in quarters of a grand slam, up 2 sets to love up and being in full control. I mean, so unfortunate. I don’t know what else to say. I wish him a speedy recovery, and he should’ve been the winner today, no doubt,” said Novak Djokovic.
The 38-year-old is now all set to compete in the semifinal round on January 30, and his opponent is yet to be decided.
Novak Djokovic on Reaching The Semi-Final Round of The Australian Open
In the aforementioned on-court interview, Novak Djokovic also faced questions about advancing to the semi-finals. The host highlighted that no matter the circumstances, a win is a win. How was the Serb feeling about it? In response, he said he was sure he was going to lose the match; however, he expressed gratitude to God for the opportunity to compete in the semi-finals. (3:06 onwards)
Novak Djokovic’s fourth round at the Australian Open was also cancelled as Jakub Mensik withdrew from the tournament due to an abdominal muscle injury, giving the Serb a walkover into the quarterfinals.
Read More Tennis News:
2. Novak Djokovic Makes Feelings Clear After Near-Miss Australian Open Disqualification
3. Novak Djokovic Reveals Real Reason Behind Family’s Absence At Australian Open 2026
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