Djokovic Eyes Sinner Showdown as Australian Open Quarterfinals Heat Up
Djokovic is gearing up for a thrilling quarterfinal match against Lorenzo Musetti at the Australian Open, where a potential clash with defending champion Jannik Sinner looms large. As Djokovic aims for his 13th semifinal appearance in Melbourne, the stakes couldn’t be higher for one of tennis’s greatest players.
The match will take place on Wednesday, with Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, benefiting from an extra day of rest after rising Czech star Jakub Mensik withdrew due to injury. This fortunate turn of events has given the 38-year-old Serb a more relaxed lead-in to the highly anticipated encounter.
“Pretty sure he won’t be tired,” commented Musetti, the fifth-seeded Italian who is looking to capitalize on his current rhythm and disrupt Djokovic’s momentum. “Hopefully, the rhythm that I have right now… will bring me luck for the next one. I feel ready to try to push him to his maximum.”
However, Musetti faces an uphill battle against Djokovic, having only defeated him once in their ten previous meetings, back in 2023. With Djokovic’s extensive experience on the big stage, the odds appear stacked against the underdog.
In the other quarterfinal, world No. 2 Jannik Sinner will take on the American eighth seed, Ben Shelton. Sinner, aiming for a third consecutive title in Melbourne—a feat only Djokovic has accomplished in the Open era—enters the match confident, holding a dominant 8-1 record over Shelton, including a semifinal victory last year.
Shelton, however, is ready to embrace the challenge and harness the energy from a “rowdy” crowd. “I’m definitely a competitor. I’m rowdy on court, and I look forward to rowdy crowds,” he asserted, hinting at his desire to create an upset.
The women’s draw also offers compelling matchups, with two-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek facing fifth seed Elena Rybakina in the first matchup of the day. Swiatek holds a narrow 6-5 edge in their meetings and knows that each encounter has been tightly contested. “Every match, she’s been a tough opponent, and her tennis for sure is great,” Swiatek said. “I need to be 100 percent ready and go for it.”
The victor of the Swiatek-Rybakina matchup will face either Jessica Pegula, who eliminated defending champion Madison Keys, or fourth seed Amanda Anisimova in the semifinals.
