Novak Djokovic calls reporter’s question about ‘chasing’ stars at Australian Open ‘disrespectful’

However, the 24-time Grand Slam champion shut down a reporter who suggested he was now “chasing” Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Italy’s Musetti pulled out with a leg injury in front of a packed Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday afternoon, 6-4 6-3 1-3.

Djokovic had also breezed through the fourth round when Jakub Mensik withdrew from the tournament with an abdominal injury.

Lorenzo said he felt pain the entire second set but it was after he came back on court after a medical time-out for the third set that he felt he could not go on. Djokovic said he didn’t realise Lorenzo was struggling until the third set.

The two players embraced at the net before Musetti, world no. 5, received a huge applause from the crowd as he exited the arena.

After the match, the Djokovic told reporters, “I have to play better” when asked if he still had the confidence to continue winning slams.

“I don’t want to take out anything from Musetti’s variety that he put in and the quality of tennis he put in today. It was great, for sure. But I think I’ve underperformed for the level that I showed throughout this tournament up to today,” the 38-year-old said.

“I have to play better. I mean, no doubt about it. I know that if I’m feeling well and the body is holding on and I’m playing well … I always have a chance.

“It’s semi-finals of a Grand Slam, so in terms of level of confidence and motivation, I mean, of course, it’s always there. It must be. Otherwise, what’s the point of competing?”

“I’ve been in this situation many, many times in my career, and obviously four times last year. I’m glad to repeat the best Grand Slam result from last year, which is reaching the semis. I know that it’s only going to get tougher from here, but I have to be ready for it.

“Now, I cannot predict the result of whether I’m going to play well or not, but I’m definitely going to give my best.”

Later on in the press conference, Djokovic took offence when asked about “chasing” the younger stars of the tournament, claiming the framing of the question was “disrespectful”.

The reporter asked Djokovic to compare what it felt like chasing Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer earlier in his career to now Alcaraz and Sinner.

“I find it a little bit disrespectful that you kind of miss out on what happened in between, where the times when I started chasing, as you say, Rafa and Roger, and now that I’m chasing Carlos and Jannik, and there’s probably about a 15-year period in between where I was dominating the Grand Slams,” Djokovic replied.

“So I think it’s important to put that in perspective. I don’t feel like I’m chasing, to be honest.”

He said Nadal, who retired in 2024, and Federer, who retired in 2022, would always be his greatest rivals, and he had “tremendous respect” for Sinner and Alcaraz.

“I think these kind of rivalries and the contrast of the personalities and the styles of play are very good for tennis. How is that affecting me? As I said, I don’t feel like I’m chasing,” he continued.

“I’m creating my own history and I think I’ve been very clear when I say that my intention is always to – in terms of achievements and objectives and results – I want to get to the championship match in every tournament, particularly slams.”

He credited slams for being one of the biggest reasons he continues to play tennis competitively.

“Are they better right now than me and all the other guys? Yes, they are. I mean, the quality and the level is amazing. It’s great. It’s phenomenal. But does that mean that I walk out with a white flag? No. I’m going to fight until the last shot, until the last point, and do my very best to challenge them.”

‘I have no words’: Musetti retires with injury

23-year-old Musetti entered his post-match press conference holding his injured leg.

“I have no words to describe how I’m feeling right now and how tough this injury is for me,” he told reporters.

“Honestly, I never imagined the feeling of leading two sets to zero to Novak and playing like that and having to leave the match like that.”

He suspects a tear in his upper right leg.

Djokovic said what happened to Musetti showed how challenging the sport is.

“He was the better player on the court and close to win it,” Djokovic said.

“If you are part of the team sports, then maybe you go out and somebody substitutes you for a set, and then you attend to your physical issue and maybe get a better chance to close out the match, but that’s not possible in our sport.”

Djokovic had his own medical time-out for a bad blister, but said he had no other major issues to worry about going into the semi-final.

“You always have some minor issues with your body, at least for me every single day. But major issues, no,” he confirmed.

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