Musetti completes main QF set, earns Djokovic conflict at Australian Open

Australian Open

Musetti completes main QF set, earns Djokovic conflict at Australian Open

The fifth seed breaks Lexus ATP Head2Head tie with Fritz

January 26, 2026

Lorenzo Musetti downed fellow High 10 star Taylor Fritz on Monday on the Australian Open, the place the Italian is into his fourth main quarter-final and first in Melbourne.

Combining elite courtroom protection along with his blistering shotmaking, Musetti scored a 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 victory inside Rod Laver Enviornment to seal a set of quarter-final appearances on the 4 Slams.

Musetti’s Profession-Greatest End result At Every Main

*Lively

“I feel at this time [my serve] was actually working effectively,” stated Musetti, who struck 13 aces and gained 84 per cent of his first-serve factors. “I feel I made considered one of my greatest performances in aces in my profession thus far, so I’m actually, actually blissful.

“Once I completed final season fairly late, the objectives have been to start out effectively this 12 months, as a result of I’d by no means surpassed the primary week right here. Making the ultimate in Hong Kong, successful doubles in Hong Kong [with Lorenzo Sonego] and now being within the quarter-finals, for me, it’s actually a dream.”

The fifth seed has earned a conflict towards document 10-time champion Novak Djokovic, who reached the final eight after Czech Jakub Mensik withdrew resulting from an belly muscle harm. Djokovic leads Musetti 9-1 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence, and can enter Wednesday’s assembly on a six-match successful streak towards the Italian.

Two days faraway from enjoying a four-hour, 27-minute five-set battle towards Tomas Machac, Musetti confirmed no apparent indicators of fatigue underneath the afternoon solar. Musetti opened his shoulders and dictated play from the baseline, crushing 33 winners and utilizing his heavy top-spin forehand to attract errors from Fritz.

The American struggled early to land his normally dependable serve, ending the primary set with a 42 per cent first-serve proportion, in accordance with Infosys Stats. Although Fritz discovered extra rhythm behind his supply because the match wore on, he was unable to make inroads on return (0/2 on break factors).

Sporting k-tape on each his left and proper indirect areas, Fritz referred to as for the physio at 3-2 within the second set. Musetti, a two-time tour-level titlist, broke Fritz to like at 5-5 later that set, permitting him to serve for a two-sets-to-love benefit. Musetti once more broke Fritz within the opening sport of the third set and infrequently appeared again, clinching victory after two hours and three minutes. Musetti saved his cool when serving for the match, touchdown three deft drop photographs en path to holding to like.

“I positively improved my serve rather a lot and particularly making an attempt to be extra aggressive with the forehand and making an attempt to make use of my variation to steer the sport,” Musetti stated when requested about changes he’s made to enhance on laborious courts. “Like at this time, with the forehand making an attempt to open the courtroom and make the opponent transfer. I feel earlier than, I used to be beginning to play too far and I used to be a bit of too passive on the rally.

“My coach at all times retains telling me to be a bit of extra aggressive and attempt to go for it, take the lead of the rally. That’s what I did at this time.”

Musetti is competing at a career-high No. 5 within the PIF ATP Rankings this fortnight. Final 12 months, he posted a career-best 45 tour-level match wins and competed on the year-end Nitto ATP Finals for the primary time. Together with his newest win, Musetti improved to 4-3 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence towards Fritz, who beat the Italian in Turin in November. The Italian’s victory marked his first hard-court win towards Fritz.

Right here to remain 😤

Lorenzo Musetti defeats Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 to achieve the Australian Open quarter-finals for the primary time.@AustralianOpen | #AO26 pic.twitter.com/DYXdTDropk

— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 26, 2026