Musetti raced into a 6-4 6-3 lead, playing brilliant tennis, but began to struggle after noticing pain in his leg at the beginning of the second set<\/a>. The issue became worse at the start of the third, leaving Musetti unable to run, and he retired while 3-1 down. <\/p>\n Djokovic\u2019s latest pursuit of a 25th grand slam title was also aided by a walkover in the fourth round, as Jakub Mensik pulled out of the tournament<\/a> due to injury, and the 10-time Australian Open champion said he will have to bring his \u201cA-game\u201d to beat Sinner in the semi-finals on Friday. <\/p>\n Sinner beat Ben Shelton in straight-sets in the other quarter-final for his 19th win in a row in Melbourne. The Italian has also beaten Djokovic in their last five meetings, which includes semi-finals at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon. <\/p>\n Earlier, Elena Rybakina<\/a> ended Iga Swiatek<\/a>\u2019s career grand slam attempt with a 7-5 6-1 victory in the women\u2019s quarter-finals<\/a>. Rybakina, the 2023 runner-up, will play sixth seed Jessica Pegula<\/a> , who reached her first Australian Open<\/a> semi-final with a 6-2 7-6 win over Amanda Anisimova<\/a>. <\/p>\n Follow latest score updates from the Australian Open, below<\/p>\n Australian Open latest scores and updates <\/a>Novak Djokovic gives injury update on \u2018biggest concern\u2019 facing Australian Open bid<\/p>\n Novak Djokovic was pleased to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open without any \u201cmajor\u201d physical issues as he issued an update on a troublesome foot blister ahead of his showdown against Jannik Sinner. <\/p>\n Djokovic admitted he was \u201cextremely lucky\u201d to survive his quarter-final meeting with Lorenzo Musetti, as the Italian retired from the match due to a leg injury while leading 2-0 in sets. <\/p>\n It was another boost for Djokovic as the 38-year-old bids to win a record 25th grand slam title and become the oldest Australian Open champion of all time, although he will be the underdog against defending champion Sinner on Friday. <\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 12:48<\/p>\n <\/a>Why Novak Djokovic\u2019s lucky Australian Open run now faces a major problem<\/p>\n After receiving a walkover in the fourth round, Djokovic advanced from the quarter-finals when Lorenzo Musetti retired from two sets up, booking a rematch with Jannik Sinner. <\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 12:23<\/p>\n <\/a>Lorenzo Musetti devastated by Australian Open retirement: \u2018There are no words\u2019<\/p>\n A devastated Lorenzo Musetti said he had \u201cno words\u201d to describe his disappointment after he was forced to retire from his Australian Open quarter-final against Novak Djokovic while two sets up.<\/p>\n The 23-year-old Italian looked on course for the biggest win of his career as he deservedly led Djokovic 6-4 6-3, but the fifth seed was struck down by a right leg injury that became more painful in the third.<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 12:07<\/p>\n <\/a>Novak Djokovic looks ahead to Jannik Sinner clash: ‘He is the favourite’ <\/p>\n \u201cI mean, [he is the] absolute favourite, but you never know. Hopefully I can deliver my A-game for that matchup, because that’s what’s going to be needed at least to have a chance. I wasn’t playing close to my best today, so I’m going to have to change that around.<\/p>\n \u201cAre they [Sinner and Alcaraz] better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. I mean, the quality and the level is amazing. It’s great. It’s phenomenal.<\/p>\n \u201cBut does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No. I’m going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them.\u201d<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 11:47<\/p>\n <\/a>Jannik Sinner hoping for another ‘great battle’ against Novak Djokovic <\/p>\n \u201cThese are moments you practice for, why you wake up in the morning, and you just look forward to play hopefully a good match. <\/p>\n \u201cIf you want to win you have to play at your best, so I’m looking forward to it, but also in the past I had great lessons [against Djokovic].<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn’t really matter the result – it improves you as a player and as a person. We are still lucky to have Novak here, playing incredible tennis with his age <\/p>\n \u201cWe play for you guys, but we also play for us and hopefully it’s gonna be a great battle out here and then we’ll see. Of course, it\u2019s gonna be very, very difficult.\u201d <\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 11:27<\/p>\n <\/a>Jannik Sinner: ‘I feel stronger physically again’<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s very, very tough to play against Ben, a huge, huge serve, and I feel like he’s improving so much year after year, especially after the off-season. <\/p>\n \u201cYou never know how certain players are gonna play against you, changing a lot of things, so very happy about today’s performance. As always, thanks for the support. Now let’s see what’s coming. <\/p>\n \u201cI was struggling [in the third round against Eliot Spizzirri]. We go day by day. I had a great win, win a couple of days ago against fellow Italian [Luciano Darderi], which gives you a confidence boost. <\/p>\n \u201cToday I felt like I was moving again a little bit better. I feel I feel stronger physically again. <\/p>\n \u201cOf course, semis again, I’m very happy to be here again. Of course, we all know what challenge I’m up against next, but I’m looking forward to it and we all hope for a great match.\u201d <\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 11:12<\/p>\n <\/a>Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner to lock horns again at Australian Open<\/p>\n Novak Djokovic said he will have to bring his \u201cA-game\u201d as he faces another Australian Open showdown with defending champion Jannik Sinner.<\/p>\n Djokovic\u2019s bid for a record 25th grand slam title looked to be over as he trailed Lorenzo Musetti by two sets in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, but the 38-year-old was \u201cextremely lucky\u201d to progress as the Italian retired with a right leg injury.<\/p>\n Having lost to Sinner in each of their last five meetings, including in three grand slam semi-finals, Djokovic will need to improve if he is to end the second seed\u2019s 19-match winning run at Melbourne Park. Sinner returned to the semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Ben Shelton.<\/p>\n Sinner will be bidding to set up a fourth grand slam final in a row against his rival Carlos Alcaraz, who plays third seed Alexander Zverev in the first semi-final on Friday.<\/p>\n Sinner ended Djokovic\u2019s 33-match winning run at the Australian Open by beating the 10-time champion in the 2024 semi-finals, and they are set for another showdown in Melbourne.<\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 11:03<\/p>\n <\/a>GAME, SET AND MATCH! Jannik Sinner 6-3 6-4 6-4 Ben Shelton<\/p>\n That\u2019s 19 wins in a row in Melbourne for Jannik Sinner. Such a clean performance, for the most part, against Ben Shelton. He will play Novak Djokovic on Friday. <\/p>\n Eighth seed Shelton had played really well through to the quarter-finals, like Alex de Minaur had been on the other side, but Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are just on a different level. Sinner has now won nine matches in a row, and 22 sets in a row, against the American. <\/p>\n The top four seeds on the men\u2019s side have reached the semi-finals. It will be No 1 Alcaraz against No 3 Alexander Zverev, and No 2 Sinner against No 4 Djokovic. <\/p>\n Jamie Braidwood28 January 2026 10:56<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI282554788.jpeg\")
(AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI282575625.jpeg\")
(Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Jannik](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI282574597.jpeg\")
Jannik Sinner celebrates (AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/SEI282573721.jpeg\")
(AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n