Musetti, on his match against Djokovic: "I don't want to play that game, I want to win it"

Diego Jiménez Rubio | 26 Jan 2026 | 09.07

Lorenzo Musetti talks about Djokovic at the Australian Open 2026. Photo: gettyimages

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Constant growth based on a superb exercise of humility to evolve as a tennis player. That's what Lorenzo Musetti has been doing for years, committed to becoming an increasingly aggressive player in pursuit of unimaginable success compared to a few years ago. He spoke at a press conference about the 2026 Australian Open after reaching the quarterfinals and setting up a match with Novak Djokovic.

He is currently at the peak of his career and conveys the feeling that he can still continue to grow. Lorenzo Musetti already knows what it's like to reach Grand Slam semifinals, having done so at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, but he has also advanced to the quarterfinals in Melbourne and New York. In this 2026 Australian Open, he will seek to explore his limits, something that would require him to achieve a remarkable feat, such as defeating Novak Djokovic. He discussed this and other matters in a press conference after defeating Taylor Fritz.

This is what Musetti said at the 2026 Australian Open after beating Fritz

Feelings against Fritz and radical change in his game

"I had never played professionally at Rod Laver Arena, and it was a very nice feeling. I think in the first set it was clear to me that Taylor had some physical issue, but then he raised his game, and it was not easy to win. The key was my ability to focus on my game plan, without thinking about anything else but sticking to my strategy," he emphasized.

"I've been wanting to become a more aggressive player for a while now, and I'm achieving it thanks to a significant mental shift I've made. Improving my serve has been crucial, but even more so, convincing myself of the necessity to play more aggressively. Additionally, I've gained experience in managing tense situations on the court and learned to conserve energy as much as possible on and off the court during a Grand Slam tournament. Having already reached two semifinals in tournaments of this level gives me a lot of confidence in my capabilities," noted the player from Carrara.

"I've become aware of my abilities; I know what I can do on the court. I believe that winning against Machac in five sets the other day, enduring the heat we faced, could be a turning point in my career. I interpreted it as proof that I've made a leap in quality on all levels," stated a man aiming to leave Melbourne among the top three players in the ATP ranking, something he would need to win his quarterfinal match against the GOAT.

Approaching the match against Novak Djokovic

"It's always a great challenge to play against him. Every time we've faced each other, I've drawn many conclusions and learned from each match," admits the Italian, who has only managed to win once in the ten encounters they've had, at the 2023 Montecarlo. "I know it will be very difficult to beat him; he comes without having lost a set, will be well-rested for not playing in the Round of 16, and I know what it entails to face him," commented Musetti, who came close to defeating the Serbian a few months ago in Athens.

"In that match, I lacked a bit of composure and clarity in crucial moments, as well as maintaining aggressiveness when I had opportunities to close out the game. Every time I faced him, I lacked that final step, and I think it's related to not having a real conviction that I could win. Now, I believe things can be different. I don't want to just play that match; I want to win it," explained the Italian before revealing what makes playing against Novak so complex.

"You have to consider what it means to compete against a player of his eternal champion status, with all that entails in terms of mentality. The other most difficult thing is how he manages to bounce back from extreme situations. He never gives up, and the tougher it gets, the higher he raises his level," stated an excited Lorenzo Musetti about the possibility of defeating Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Australian Open, which would represent a milestone in his career.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Musetti, sobre su duelo con Djokovic: "No quiero jugar ese partido, quiero ganarlo"

Lorenzo Musetti