Novak Djokovic, a 10-time Australian Open champion, secured a spot in the semifinals after a walkover and an in-match retirement. Despite dropping the first two sets to Lorenzo Musetti in the quarterfinals, Djokovic was leading when the Italian retired due to a right leg injury. Djokovic acknowledged his fortune in advancing and surpassed Roger Federer’s all-time record with his 103rd win at Melbourne Park.
In the other semifinal matchup, two-time defending champion Jannik Sinner will face Djokovic. Sinner defeated Ben Shelton in straight sets to extend his winning streak to 19 matches at Melbourne Park. While Sinner acknowledged his luck in staying in the tournament after facing cramps in a previous round, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete against a tennis great like Djokovic.
The men’s final four also features No. 1 seed Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 seed Alexander Zverev, setting up an exciting showdown in the upcoming rounds. Sinner holds a 6-4 advantage in head-to-head matchups against Djokovic, having won their last five encounters, including significant matches at previous Grand Slam events.
On the women’s side, Jessica Pegula secured her spot in the semifinals by defeating Amanda Anisimova, marking her first appearance in the final four at Melbourne Park after three previous quarterfinal losses. Pegula’s domestic dominance was evident as she continued her strong performance against American opponents.
Elena Rybakina also advanced to the semifinals by defeating Iga Swiatek, preventing the Polish player from completing a career Grand Slam. Pegula will face Rybakina in one semifinal, while top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka will take on Elina Svitolina in the other. Pegula, aiming for her first Grand Slam title, expressed her excitement about breaking through and playing quality tennis at the tournament.
Rybakina, who hails from Kazakhstan, highlighted the importance of serving well and adapting to varying conditions in Grand Slam tournaments. She emphasized the emotional and challenging journey of competing in such prestigious events.