Novak Djokovic advanced to the Australian Open semi-finals on Wednesday after Lorenzo Musetti was forced to retire with an injury.
Musetti had taken a two-set lead before a right leg issue ended his run, dashing hopes of reaching his first Grand Slam final.
After the match, Djokovic acknowledged his good fortune and took to social media to offer support to Musetti.
It’s been a strange tournament for Djokovic, who already survived a third-round controversy and benefited from Jakub Mensik’s withdrawal in the fourth round.
Djokovic still faces a difficult path ahead, with Jannik Sinner up next and possibly Carlos Alcaraz waiting in the final if he gets through. Speaking after the win over Musetti, Djokovic didn’t seem pleased when asked about his current position in men’s tennis.
Novak Djokovic addresses comments about chasing Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz
During the post-match press conference, a reporter asked: “In the early part of your career when you were chasing Roger [Federer] and Rafa [Nadal] for titles, and now, at the back end of your career, you’re chasing Jannik and Carlos.”
Djokovic quickly pushed back: “I’m chasing Jannik and Carlos? In which sense?”
The reporter clarified that he meant in terms of current Grand Slam competition.
“So I’m always the chaser and I’m never being chased?” Djokovic responded.
The journalist followed up by acknowledging Djokovic’s record: “In the meantime, you’ve won 24 Grand Slams.”
“Thanks. It’s worth saying that sometimes, right?” Djokovic replied.
The conversation then shifted to whether there were any parallels between his early career pursuit of Federer and Nadal, compared to this era dominated by Sinner and Alcaraz.
Djokovic didn’t appreciate how it was framed. “Well, I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between where the times when I started chasing, as you say, Rafa and Roger…”
He continued: “…and now that I’m chasing Carlos and Jannik. And there’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams so I think it’s important to put that in perspective. I don’t feel like I’m chasing.”
“Roger and Rafa will always be my greatest rivals. He had nothing but praise for both Sinner and Alcaraz.
“This is a kind of natural cycle in sports,” he said. “You’re going to have another two superstars that are going to maybe have another third guy who will challenge them.”
Alcaraz and Sinner’s recent form has set them apart
The two top-ranked players have been nearly unstoppable over the past two seasons, winning the last eight Grand Slam titles between them and meeting in seven of those finals.
The current ATP rankings highlight just how far ahead they are. Alexander Zverev, ranked world number three, has 5,105 points – which is less than half of what Jannik Sinner holds as world number two.
Novak Djokovic will meet Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals. The Serbian hasn’t beaten Sinner in their last five encounters.
The last time Djokovic managed to get the better of Sinner was in the final of the 2023 ATP Finals.
- READ MORE: Novak Djokovic admits he was on his ‘way home’ before lucky break at Australian Open 2026
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