Camille Naredo

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti retired injured during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2026. Izhar Khan, AFP

Serbias Novak Djokovic reacts after Italys Lorenzo Musetti retired injured during their mens singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2026. (Photo by IZHAR KHAN / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

Article (news)

Australian Open

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769588726987AFP__20260128__949F97H__v1__MidRes__TennisAusOpen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti retired injured during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2026. Izhar Khan, AFP" width="960"/>Serbia’s Novak Djokovic reacts after Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti retired injured during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 28, 2026. Izhar Khan, AFP</div>MELBOURNE, Australia (UPDATED) -- Novak Djokovic admitted he got lucky after opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt on Wednesday to send the Serbian great into his 13th Australian Open semi-final and a showdown with reigning champion Jannik Sinner.Earlier on day 11 in Melbourne, Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina both won in straight sets and will meet for a place in the final.The 38-year-old Djokovic, chasing an all-time record 25th Grand Slam crown, has the tennis gods smiling on him.His last-16 opponent Jakub Mensik pulled out without a ball being hit and Musetti was forced to retire with the Italian leading 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 on Rod Laver Arena.The fifth-seeded Musetti was well on top when he needed treatment on his upper right leg, and with his movement badly impeded, was forced to reluctantly throw in the towel.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/27/tennis-alcaraz-sweeps-into-maiden-melbourne-semi-as-gauff-gone-in-59-minutes-2103">READ: Alcaraz sweeps into maiden Melbourne semi as Gauff gone in 59 minutes</a></div>&quot;I feel really sorry for him, he was the far better player, I was on my way home tonight,&quot; said Djokovic, who had been uncharacteristically error strewn and staring down the barrel.&quot;It has happened to me a few times. He was in full control.&quot;So unfortunate, I don&#x27;t know what else to say.&quot;He should have been the winner today no doubt. I am extremely lucky to get through this one today.&quot;Djokovic has been trying to move past Margaret Court and clinch the landmark 25 since his last major title at the US Open in 2023.It has proved increasingly difficult with the emergence of Sinner and world number one Carlos Alcaraz.Djokovic, who needed treatment during the match for a gruesome blister, added: &quot;I am going to double my prayers and gratitude tonight to God for giving me this opportunity again.&quot;Italian second seed Sinner was sublime in sweeping past big-serving American Ben Shelton 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.Sinner holds a 6-4 win-loss record over Djokovic and has won their last five encounters.Despite that, Sinner said Djokovic still sets the standard for professionalism.&quot;Me, as a 24-year-old, I&#x27;m lucky to have someone like him in front of my eyes, and I can hopefully learn something,&quot; said Sinner, who together with Alcaraz has dominated the last eight majors.&quot;He&#x27;s an inspiration for all of us and especially the young players,&quot; he added.Alcaraz plays third seed Alexander Zverev in the other semi-final.<div> </div><div>- Pegula sets up Rybakina clash -</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769588748165AFP__20260126__93YE3FT__v1__MidRes__TennisAusOpen.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="USA&#x27;s Jessica Pegula celebrates victory against USA&#x27;s Madison Keys in their women&#x27;s singles match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2026. William West, AFP" width="960"/>USA&#x27;s Jessica Pegula celebrates victory against USA&#x27;s Madison Keys in their women&#x27;s singles match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 26, 2026. William West, AFP</div>Moscow-born Kazakh Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, stunned second seed Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 to book her spot in the last four.Pegula swept aside Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) in an all-American affair.Two-time champion Aryna Sabalenka takes on Ukrainian 12th seed Elina Svitolina in the other semi-final.Rybakina has made the Melbourne final once before, in 2023 when she lost in three tough sets to Sabalenka.The 26-year-old fifth seed took her latest victory in her stride, saying a calmer mindset helped in the heat of battle.&quot;In the beginning, when it&#x27;s the first final and you go so far in a tournament, of course you are more emotional,&quot; said Rybakina.&quot;Now I feel like I&#x27;m just doing my job, trying to improve each day. So it&#x27;s kind of another day, another match.&quot;Defeat denied Swiatek in her latest bid for a career Grand Slam of all four majors, having already won Wimbledon, the French Open and the US Open.Sixth seed Pegula and Rybakina have shared three wins each in their six matches so far.Pegula is arrowing in on her first major crown at the age of 31, and like Rybakina, is yet to drop a set.&quot;It&#x27;s awesome,&quot; Pegula said of reaching her first Australian semi-final, having beaten defending champion Madison Keys in the previous round.She was helped by an error-riddled display from fourth seed Anisimova, who racked up 44 unforced errors to Pegula&#x27;s 21.Her frustrations boiled over at the end as her hopes of reaching a third major final in a row melted away in a blur of mistakes.

Novak Djokovic admitted he got lucky after opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt on Wednesday to send the Serbian great into his 13th Australian Open semi-final and a showdown with reigning champion Jannik Sinner.

Novak Djokovic admitted he got lucky after opponent Lorenzo Musetti retired hurt on Wednesday to send the Serbian great into his 13th Australian Open semi-final and a showdown with reigning champion Jannik Sinner.

Tennis: Djokovic gets lucky to set up Sinner semi-final showdown in Melbourne

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Sports

Tennis: Djokovic gets lucky to set up Sinner semi-final showdown in Melbourne

Agence France-Presse

Published January 28, 2026 04:27 PM PHT

|

Updated January 28, 2026 10:44 PM PHT

Read More:

abssports

tennis

Australian Open

Novak Djokovic

Lorenzo Musetti

Jessica Pegula

Elena Rybakina

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.