Lorenzo Musetti Reacts to Coming up Against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Quarterfinals: “I Want To Win It”
Novak Djokovic leads the head-to-head record 9-1 against Lorenzo Musetti.
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Novak Djokovic, Lorenzo Musetti (Image via X/Giovanni Pelazzo)
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Lorenzo Musetti has reached the quarterfinal of the Australian Open for the first time in his career, defeating Taylor Fritz in straight sets in the fourth round. He is only the third man born since 2000 to reach the quarterfinal at all four Grand Slam tournaments, after Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
The Italian is set to lock horns with 10-time champion Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinal. The Serb, who is looking for ways to extend his longevity, also has a 9-1 head-to-head record over Musetti. Musetti’s sole victory over Djokovic came in the round of 16 of the 2023 Monte Carlo Masters. Speaking about this matchup during his press conference, Musetti commented:
It’s always a great challenge to play against him. Every time we’ve faced each other, I’ve drawn many conclusions and learned from every match. I know it’s going to be very difficult to beat him. He’s coming in without having lost a set, he’ll be rested because he didn’t play in the round of 16, and I know everything that comes with facing him
Djokovic’s fourth-round opponent, Jakub Mensik, had to withdraw from the tournament due to an abdominal muscle injury. This gives Djokovic three days to rest, something he very much needs as he competes at 38. Djokovic’s main challenge at the Grand Slams in recent years has been recovering from best-of-five-set matches in the later stages of the tournament. Musetti further added:
In that match, I lacked composure and clarity in the crucial moments, as well as maintaining my aggression when I had chances to close out the match. Whenever I’ve faced him, I’ve lacked that final touch, and I think it’s related to not having a real belief that I could win. Now I think things can be different. I don’t want to play that match; I want to win it.
The pair last met in the final of the ATP 250 tournament in Athens last year, where Djokovic came back from a set down to defeat Musetti and clinch his 101st title. Musetti, on the other hand, has been in a title drought since 2022.
Is this the best chance for Novak Djokovic’s for a 25th Grand Slam title?
Novak Djokovic last won a Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. Since then, the tour has been dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have set the bar very high. The duo have shared the last eight Grand Slam titles and met in the finals of the last three Grand Slams.
Whether Djokovic can win a 25th Grand Slam title has been the subject of huge discussion over the past two years. With time, his chances have only seemed bleak; however, the tables have turned slightly at the Australian Open, giving Djokovic a good chance to accomplish the feat.
Djokovic’s primary challenge has been his inability to recover like younger players at later stages of Grand Slams, but a three-day rest is going to be a huge boost for him. It will be interesting to see how Djokovic, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne, fares at the quarterfinal after this much-needed rest.
A quarterfinal victory would make Djokovic the player with the most match wins at the Australian Open, surpassing Roger Federer’s record of 102 wins. He would also become the oldest Australian Open semifinalist since Federer in 2020. Djokovic potentially awaits two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinal and World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the final.
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