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Lorenzo Musetti dominates two sets then raises white flag: advances Nole Djokovic

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Lorenzo Musetti exits the Australian Open in the worst possible way. The Italian dominated the first two sets against the’eternal Nole Djokovic but, in the third set, suffered a physical problem, probably to the right adductor, that forced him to raise the white flag. Nole Djokovic qualifies for the semifinals in Melbourne without even having won a set against the Carrarese who chews bitterly for a truly unfortunate epilogue.

Fabrizio PonciroliLorenzo Musetti throws down the gauntlet to Jannik Sinner: “I did this thinking of him”

Musetti issues challenge to Jannik Sinner: "I did this thinking of him"

The blue tennis player wants to bridge the gap that separates him from the'Alto Adige and Carlos Alcaraz
The Carrara champion talked about his goal in 2026: to reach the two outliers there in front
"This'year we saw the distance between them and the others, they are a step above everyone"
"I want to reach them, and having added important figures to my team is a decisive step toward that direction"
"I want to close the gap that this'year was still evident"
Musetti wants to become the third wheel, and to do so he added a super coach to his team
"José Perlas is an important figure that I feel can bring something more in addition to my historical coach"

"The joint work with Tartarini I believe can bring steps forward and to the ultimate leap forward that I am looking for"

Musetti will thus replicate the winning formula of the double coach who adopted Sinner
"I want to increase my aggressiveness, it is fundamental in the modern game", he said on the sidelines of the Gazzetta Sports Awards
"I don’t just want to be a counter-attacker, but also more proactive starting from the opening shots of the game"

At Rod Laver Arena, two players with great motivation compete. Lorenzo Musetti dreams of winning the Australian Open semifinals (his first ever) and continuing the good momentum that has guaranteed him the best ATP ranking in his career while Nole Djokovic wants to prove that, at 38, he still has what it takes to try to win what would be his 11th title in Melbourne and, in general, the 25th Slam of his incredible career.

In the first set Lorenzo Musetti plays great. His tennis is definitely loose. The Serb struggles to keep up the pace and suffers the plays of the Azure who takes home the first set (6-4). Nole Djokovic doesn&#8217t take it and tries to fight back but, at 1-1, comes a new break for Lorenzo Musetti who doesn&#8217t look back anymore and makes the second set his as well, closing the file 6-3. At the’beginning of the third set, physical problems begin for the Azure, who resorts to the doctor to try to find a solution that will allow him to continue playing.

The physical difficulties of Lorenzo Musetti are evident, who, in the fourth game of the third set (3-1 to his opponent), finally raises the white flag and retires. Applause for audience at the exit of the blue, visibly sad to have had to succumb to a physical problem (not the first time in his career).

Nole Djokovic secured, albeit with a bit of luck, access to the semifinals. However, the Serb also had several problems during the match, so much so that he was forced to resort to a medical time-out (blisters and flashy bandage on his right foot for the 38-year-old Serb).

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