Listen, if you’re of the pure-luck conviction, then you likely watched what happened today in Melbourne and just shook your head. It’s Wednesday, January 28, 2026. The sun was absolutely scorching on Rod Laver Arena. Many of us in the stands anticipated a standard masterclass from Novak Djokovic.  Instead, what we got was one of the weirdest and most uncomfortable matches I’ve ever seen. Seriously, it was like seeing a big, confused giant blundering around in the dark for two hours.

The Italian Job that Fell Apart

The crazy part is, for about 100 minutes, Djokovic wasn’t just losing. He was getting battered. Lorenzo Musetti, the young Italian with that silk-smooth one-handed backhand, was playing like a possessed man. He took the first set 6-4. Then he took the second 6-3.  Novak managed to claw back a 3-1 lead in the third set, but even then, it felt like he was just hanging on by a thread. You could feel the tension from the crowd. People were literally checking flight prices back to Belgrade on their phones. But there’s something about tennis. It’s brutal.

When Musetti was about to administer the knockout blow, his body surrendered. A sudden smart in his right thigh made him halt and limp. One minute he is hitting winners from the baseline. Next, he’s wincing as he walks around. He had to quit because of that injury. Just like that. Novak moves on, but man, it feels weird. The crazy part is that this is the second time in three days that luck has practically gift-wrapped a win for him. Before today’s mess with Musetti, Novak didn’t even have to put on his shoes for the fourth round.

His opponent there, the young Czech Jakub Menšík, pulled out with an abdominal injury on Sunday before they even hit the court. It’s a wild reality: we are headed into the semi-finals, and Novak Djokovic technically hasn’t had to win a single set on his merit in the second week of this Grand Slam. You’ve got to wonder if he’s a genius at saving energy or if the tennis gods are just determined to see him hit 25.

A Legend Looking Human

Djokovic looked human today. Very human. He’s 38 now, and the miles are beginning to show. He passed a significant chunk of the match dealing with an ugly, weeping blister under his big toe. He even summoned the trainer to wrap it up. You could see that he was frustrated. It wasn’t angry Novak energy as we have known it. It was more one of those moments when a man realises his legs don’t do what his brain wants them to do.

Now, he’s in the semi-finals. It’s his 103rd win at the Australian Open. That officially knocks Roger Federer off the top of that specific record pile. But let’s be real. If Musetti’s leg holds up, Novak is at a cafe right now eating gluten-free bread and wondering what went wrong.  As reported by The Guardian earlier today, Djokovic was pretty honest about it. He told the fans he was basically on his way home.

The Weight of History

The stadium reeked of sunblock and spilt beer, and for a second there, it felt like the end of an era. But the scoreboard does not recognise “almost”. It says Djokovic won. Now he is two victories from his 25th Grand Slam. That would make him one ahead of Margaret Court in the all-time record book. So, what happens next? He will play either Jannik Sinner or Ben Shelton on Friday. If it’s Sinner, Novak has to find another speed. Fast.

A blister and a little bit of luck won’t suffice to keep a bloke like Jannik at bay. But then again, we’ve written this man off about fifty times before, and he’s still standing. Tension is in the air right now over Melbourne. Half the people are like, “Oh, thank God he’s still in.” And the other half feel like they just witnessed a heist. Tennis is a cruel sport. One man has the match of his life and goes home in tears.

The other man can barely walk and makes it to the semi-finals. Well, that’s the game, isn’t it? You can have all the talent in the world, but if your thigh gives out at 2 p.m. on a Wednesday, what good is any of it? Do you think Novak is capable of winning a 25th with a dodgy foot, or has his luck finally run dry?

Also Read: 80mph Gales and 8 Inches of Snow: Storm Chandra Pushes UK Infrastructure to the Brink

Sources and References

• Sky Sports: Australian Open: Novak Djokovic through to semi-finals after Lorenzo Musetti retires injured – Official report on the match details and the 3-1 scoreline in the third set.
• Olympics.com: Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic advances to final four as Lorenzo Musetti forced to retire – Breakdown of the match stats and Djokovic’s path to the semi-finals.
• The Sunday Guardian: Australian Open 2026: Novak Djokovic Advances to Semifinals After Lorenzo Musetti Retires Hurt Despite 2-Set Lead – Coverage of the historic 103rd win milestone and the Federer record.
• Clay Tennis: “I was already on my way home”: an ‘extremely lucky’ Djokovic reaches the semi-finals after Musetti’s injury – Features the full on-court interview quotes where Novak discusses his luck and his opponent’s performance.
• Fox Sports Australia: ‘Very nasty’ injury leaves Djokovic on brink of Aus Open crash-out… but rival quits moments later – Detailed observations on Djokovic’s foot blister and the medical timeout during the match.