Entering the match taking place on the afternoon of January 28 (Vietnam time), Djokovic started quite proactively and soon won a break in game 2 set 1. However, Musetti showed careful preparation and impressive fighting spirit.
The Italian player gradually regained control of the game, making good use of opportunities to break the opponent's serve game. With 2 breaks, Musetti closed the first set with a 6-4 victory, creating a surprise against the top seed Serbian.
In set 2, Musetti continued to maintain a high tempo and controlled the ball well. Meanwhile, Djokovic made many unnecessary unforced errors and encountered difficulties in serving.
Nole" only broke his opponent's service game once, but let Musetti win 3 breaks. The 2nd set closed with a score of 6-3 in favor of Musetti, pushing Djokovic into a disadvantageous situation after 2 consecutive set losses.
The turning point of the match appeared in set 3. Djokovic played more focused and fiercely, early to break to take a 3-1 lead. In that context, Musetti suddenly asked to stop the match due to a right thigh injury.
Despite trying to continue playing, the Italian player could not maintain the necessary fitness and was forced to give up, ending the quarter-finals in a regrettable way.
This result helps Djokovic from being led to come back in an unwanted way, thereby winning a ticket to the semi-finals of the Australian Open 2026. In the next round, the Serbian player will face the winner in the match between Ben Shelton and Jannik Sinner.
