Novak Djokovic reached the semifinals of the Australian Open on January 27, 2026, when Lorenzo Musetti retired from their quarterfinal match. The Serbian trailed 4-6, 3-6 but led 3-1 in the third set when the Italian pulled out due to a leg injury.
Djokovic, the fourth seed, faced a tough start as Musetti, seeded fifth, took control with strong groundstrokes and broke serve multiple times. The match shifted when Musetti showed signs of pain early in the third set and could not continue after medical treatment. This marks Djokovic’s 13th semifinal at Melbourne Park, where he has won 10 titles.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion called the outcome lucky but praised Musetti’s play. He now faces Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, a matchup where Sinner holds a recent edge. The day featured the remaining quarterfinals in singles, with players dealing with humid conditions on the outdoor courts.
In the other men’s quarterfinal, second seed Jannik Sinner beat eighth seed Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. Sinner broke Shelton’s serve in each set and served effectively, hitting 12 aces. The Italian extended his winning streak at the tournament to 18 matches and looks forward to facing Djokovic again.
On the women’s side, fifth seed Elena Rybakina defeated second seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1. Rybakina broke Swiatek late in the first set and dominated the second with powerful returns. This win sends Rybakina to her first Australian Open semifinal. Jessica Pegula advanced with a victory over Amanda Anisimova. Pegula controlled the match from the baseline and converted key break points to secure her spot in the last four.
