Novak Djokovic advanced to Australian Open 2026 semis after Lorenzo Musetti retired despite being two set up &nbsp;on Wednesday (Jan 28) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Djokovic was trailing 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 when Musetti decided to retire, handing a walkover win to 24-time grand slam champions Djokovic. The Serbian will now face the winner fo Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton for a place in the final. Notably, it was Djokovic who had retired last year in Australian Open 2025 semis against Alexander Zverev and misses a potential place in the final, eventually won by Sinner.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">The sport we all love can be brutal sometimes... 💔 WIshing you a speedy recovery, Lorenzo 🙌<a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/bC5wLyLrxo">pic.twitter.com/bC5wLyLrxo</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2016403713850523938?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Djokovic calls Musetti retiring 'unfortunate'</h2>Djokovic may have gotten the win but he didn't like way it happened, probably because he had suffered the same fate quite a few times in his career. He empathised with Musetti and said: "These kind of things happen in sport, and it happened to me a few times. But being in the quarters of a Grand Slam, two sets to love up, and being in full control, I mean, so unfortunate. I really wish him a speedy recovery, and he should have been a winner today, I have no doubt."Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/iga-swiatek-follows-coco-gauff-on-her-way-out-of-australian-open-2026-in-another-quarterfinal-shocker-1769569321607">Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker</a>Djokovic, chasing his record and elusive 25th grand slam title, is now one step closer to reach no player has ever been to beofre.<h2><a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-not-a-bad-thing-coco-gauff-unhappy-after-racquet-smashing-video-goes-viral-after-loss-vs-svitolina-1769524149236">Coco Gauff unhappy after racquet smashing video goes viral</a></h2>Gauff lost to Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-2 on Tuesday (Jan 27) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park and smashed the racquet to bits in an unhinged moment while walking back to locker room. The American, however, did not like the video being picked up by the camera and felt that such incidents 'don't need to be broadcast.' Gauff also explained why she broke the racquet while talking to reporters.Gauff said that she 'tried to go somewhere without camera' as she didn't want to smash the racquet in front of kids and said: “I just took the minute to go and do that. I don’t think it’s a bad thing. Like I said, I don’t try to do it on court in front of kids and things like that, but I do know I need to let out that emotion."

Lorenzo Musetti was 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 ahead against Novak Djokovic when he decided to retire with an injury, paving the way for 24-time grand slam champion Djokovic to enter the semis of Australian Open 2026.

Novak Djokovic advanced to Australian Open 2026 semis after Lorenzo Musetti retired despite being two set up on Wednesday (Jan 28) at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne Park. Djokovic was trailing 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 when Musetti decided to retire, handing a walkover win to 24-time grand slam champions Djokovic. The Serbian will now face the winner fo Jannik Sinner vs Ben Shelton for a place in the final. Notably, it was Djokovic who had retired last year in Australian Open 2025 semis against Alexander Zverev and misses a potential place in the final, eventually won by Sinner.

Lorenzo Musetti was 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 ahead against Novak Djokovic when he decided to retire with an injury, paving the way for 24-time grand slam champion Djokovic to enter the semis of Australian Open 2026.

AO 2026 | Djokovic calls walkover QF win 'unfortunate' after Musetti retires with injury - WATCH

In what comes across as a second shocker in the women’s last eight at the ongoing Australian Open 2026, fifth seed Elena Rybakina stunned the world number two Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-final on Wednesday (Jan 28), denying the tournament favourite in her bid for a career Grand Slam. Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1); she will meet either Jessica Pegula or Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final at Melbourne Park.&nbsp;Having lost the summit clash to the world number one Aryna Sabalenka in her last final here in 2023, Rybakina hasn’t reached the quarters at the Australian Open since. However, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has been the player in form lately in the women’s division, winning 18 of her last 19 matches. &nbsp;Rybakina has now reached her fourth career Slam semi-final and first since Wimbledon 2024.&nbsp;Watch her winning moment -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 Fun fact: Rybakina hasn&#39;t dropped a single set on her way to the semifinal and she sealed the deal with an ace here! <a href="https://twitter.com/wwos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wwos</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/espn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@espn</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/tntsports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@tntsports</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/wowowtennis?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@wowowtennis</a> • <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AO26?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AO26</a> <a href="https://t.co/rHB2l8dOKn">pic.twitter.com/rHB2l8dOKn</a>&mdash; #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) <a href="https://twitter.com/AustralianOpen/status/2016336060465266944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 28, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"Really pleased with the win," said the 26-year-old. "We know each other pretty well, and I was just trying to stay aggressive. &nbsp;"I feel like in the first set for both of us, the first serve was not really working, so just trying to step in on the second serve, put pressure on each other. &nbsp;"I think in the second set I just started to play more freely and served better."&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ao-2026-what-is-whoop-band-and-why-sabalenka-sinner-alcaraz-asked-to-remove-fitness-device-1769528111210">AO 2026 | 'Not steroids': What is Whoop band - Sabalenka, Sinner, Alcaraz asked to remove fitness device</a> &nbsp;Defeat, however, denied Swiatek a career Grand Slam of all four majors. She has won four French Opens, the US Open and Wimbledon, but a title at Melbourne Park remains elusive.&nbsp; &nbsp;Swiatek and Rybakina had met 11 times before, including five last season, with the Pole holding a narrow 6-5 edge. But Rybakina won the last encounter at the WTA Finals in Riyadh. &nbsp;Swiatek forged a break on Rybakina's opening serve, with the Kazakh getting only one of her first serves in, but she struck back immediately to keep the match level. &nbsp;Rybakina's serve was misfiring, and the Pole worked another three break points in the next game, but all were saved as the fifth seed hung on. The Kazakh made some adjustments, and her serve finally started to hit the mark. &nbsp;There was little to split them until Swiatek served to stay in the set at 5-6, with Rybakina going for her shots and converting on the second set-point opportunity. &nbsp;The writing was on the wall for Swiatek with Rybakina winning her last 21 matches after taking the first set, and she pounced early with a sizzling forehand return, earning a break to love. &nbsp;She consolidated for 3-0, and when two straight aces made it 4-1, there was no way back for the Pole.&nbsp;(With inputs from AFP)

Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1). 

In what comes across as a second shocker in the women’s last eight at the ongoing Australian Open 2026, fifth seed Elena Rybakina stunned the world number two Iga Swiatek to reach the semi-final on Wednesday (Jan 28), denying the tournament favourite in her bid for a career Grand Slam. Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1); she will meet either Jessica Pegula or Amanda Anisimova for a place in the final at Melbourne Park. Having lost the summit clash to the world number one Aryna Sabalenka in her last final here in 2023, Rybakina hasn’t reached the quarters at the Australian Open since. However, the 2022 Wimbledon champion has been the player in form lately in the women’s division, winning 18 of her last 19 matches. Rybakina has now reached her fourth career Slam semi-final and first since Wimbledon 2024. Watch her winning moment -

Rybakina bounced back from early serving woes to beat Swiatek in the straight sets (7-5, 6-1).&nbsp;

Iga Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker

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AO 2026 | Djokovic calls walkover QF win 'unfortunate' after Musetti retires with injury - WATCH

Swiatek follows Gauff on her way out of Australian Open in another QF shocker