Italian opens up on injury, frustration, and the uncertainty surrounding his condition
Lorenzo Musetti addressed the media after being forced to retire from his Australian Open quarterfinal against Novak Djokovic, offering a detailed explanation of how the injury occurred and expressing frustration over an issue that ended what he described as one of the best performances of his career.
Injury felt early in the second set
Musetti explained that the first signs of the injury appeared early in the second set, although he could not recall the exact game. He said the issue surfaced during a routine movement, as he ran forward to retrieve a drop shot.
“I didn’t feel it immediately,” Musetti said. “But when I started returning serve afterward, I realized something wasn’t right high up in my right leg.”
He added that during the same stretch of the match—after a sequence of breaks and rebreaks—he informed his team that he had injured himself. Despite the pain, Musetti tried to continue playing.
“They told me to try to grit my teeth, and that’s what I managed to do for about a set,” he explained. “But as I expected, it became impossible.”
“One of the best matches I’ve ever played”
Despite the abrupt ending, Musetti said the level he reached against Djokovic was a source of pride, even if it made the situation more painful emotionally.
“Today I probably played one of the best matches of my life,” Musetti said, referring to the quality, weight of shots, and importance of the occasion. He noted that he managed to put significant pressure on Djokovic, the most successful player in the history of the sport.
“That’s something I’ll take with me,” he added. “But at the same time, it makes me even angrier, because I can’t understand how this injury happened after all the work I’ve been putting in to prevent these kinds of issues.”
No clear explanation for the injury
When asked about the growing number of injuries on tour and whether the schedule could be a contributing factor, Musetti was careful not to place blame on the calendar.
He pointed out that the season had just begun and that he arrived in Australia after a month of preparation, followed by one intense week of competition in Hong Kong.
“I can’t really blame an excessive schedule,” Musetti said. “If this had happened at the end of the season, after eight or nine consecutive weeks of matches, maybe it would have been easier to explain.”
Instead, he admitted that the lack of a clear cause was what troubled him most.
“I honestly don’t know where this came from,” he said. “And that’s what frustrates me the most.”
Looking ahead with uncertainty
Musetti did not provide a timeline for his recovery, focusing instead on the immediate disappointment of being forced to stop while playing at such a high level.
While the injury cut short his Australian Open campaign, his performance against Djokovic offered a reminder of his potential at the biggest stages—making the circumstances of his retirement all the more difficult to accept.
For full match context and analysis, read our Novak Djokovic vs Lorenzo Musetti quarterfinal breakdown.