Novak Djokovic on the ropes as Musetti takes command in Melbourne

Lorenzo Musetti stunned Rod Laver Arena by charging into a commanding two-set lead over Novak Djokovic in their Australian Open quarter-final, leaving the 10-time champion facing an uphill battle in Melbourne.

The Italian played fearless, fluent tennis to take the opening set 6-4, capitalising on an unusually error-strewn performance from Djokovic. While the Serb managed to hold serve late to stay in the set, Musetti kept his nerve and sealed it with a decisive forehand, setting the tone for what followed.

Momentum swung even further in Musetti’s favour early in the second set as he broke Djokovic’s serve immediately, mixing heavy groundstrokes with delicate touch at the net. Djokovic briefly responded by breaking back, but the reprieve was short-lived. A flurry of unforced errors – five in the space of six points — handed Musetti another break and reasserted the Italian’s control.

As the match wore on, Djokovic’s frustration became increasingly visible. Missed volleys, shaky forehands and head-shaking told the story of a champion struggling to find rhythm, while Musetti thrived under pressure. The fifth seed repeatedly saved break points with bold shot-making, including forehand winners and well-timed aces.

Musetti closed out the second set 6-3 with a blistering forehand on set point, moving two sets clear and drawing a roar from the crowd. Djokovic immediately called for a medical timeout, receiving treatment on a heavily strapped foot, adding further uncertainty to his hopes of a comeback.

Despite Djokovic’s long history of defying the odds on the biggest stages, Musetti resumed the third set with confidence, holding serve comfortably and continuing to dictate play. With crisp one-handed backhands and calm composure, the Italian placed himself in a dream position against a player chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Whether Djokovic can once again summon one of his trademark recoveries remains to be seen — but for now, this quarter-final belongs firmly to Lorenzo Musetti.