Novak Djokovic described himself as “lucky” after advancing to the Australian Open semifinals on Wednesday following the retirement of Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti due to injury. The 24-time Grand Slam champion progressed despite trailing by two sets and struggling physically, admitting the outcome could easily have gone the other way.

Musetti, the fifth seed, had taken firm control of the quarterfinal by winning the opening two sets 6-4, 6-3. Djokovic appeared hampered by a serious blister on his foot and later revealed he had already begun thinking about leaving the tournament. However, the momentum shifted early in the third set when Musetti required a medical timeout for treatment on his upper right leg.

After receiving on-court medical attention, the 23-year-old Italian attempted to continue and played on for nearly two more games. His movement was visibly restricted, and after struggling to compete at full intensity, Musetti was forced to retire, handing Djokovic a place in the last four.

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Speaking after the match, Djokovic acknowledged the unusual nature of the win. He said he was fortunate to still be in the tournament, crediting Musetti for his strong start and expressing sympathy for his opponent’s injury. Djokovic noted that being two sets down and dealing with his own physical issues made the turnaround unexpected.

The result keeps Djokovic’s bid for another Australian Open title alive, extending his record run at Melbourne Park. Known for his resilience and ability to recover from difficult situations, the Serbian star once again demonstrated his experience, even though the match ended prematurely.

Djokovic will now turn his focus to the semifinals, where he is expected to face a significantly tougher physical and tactical challenge. While relieved to have advanced, he acknowledged that improvement will be needed as the tournament enters its decisive stages, with the world’s top players competing for the season’s first Grand Slam title.

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