Australian Open 2026: Quarter-finalist Lorenzo Musetti sets this record
What's the story
Italian tennis star Lorenzo Musetti has made history by reaching the quarter-finals of the 2026 Australian Open. The 23-year-old made it to this stage for the first time at Melbourne Park, defeating ninth seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets - 6-2, 7-5, 6-4. Despite a disrupted run due to personal reasons and family commitments, Musetti's resilience shone through in his match against Fritz. Here are the key stats.
Stats
A look at match stats
Musetti won a total of 97 points and 33 winners throughout the match. He fired 13 aces compared to Fritz's 10. The Italian had a win percentage of 84 and 69 in the first and second serves, respectively. He won four of his nine break points. While Fritz (34) had more unforced errors than Musetti (24), the latter recorded two double-faults.
Information
Musetti, Fritz level in head-to-head matches
Musetti and Fritz are now level in the ATP head-to-head matches (3-3). Notably, the American was vying for his second quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open. He is yet to win a Grand Slam.
Landmark
Musetti completes quarter-final run at Majors
According to Opta, Musetti is the man born since 2000 to reach the singles quarter-final at all four Grand Slams, joining Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz. Musetti has already reached the semis at Roland Garros (2025) and Wimbledon (2024), as well as the quarter-final at the US Open (2025). The Italian is now 7-4 at the Australian Open and 36-19 at Grand Slams.
Path
Musetti's journey to the quarterfinals
Musetti had a challenging journey to the quarter-finals. One of his coaches and a physio returned to Italy for personal reasons during this phase. He also stayed away from his family after welcoming his second son in November last year. The Italian admitted that he didn't get much sleep during the offseason but found ways to practice effectively on and off the court.
Upcoming match
Musetti's next challenge: Novak Djokovic
Musetti's next challenge at the Australian Open is against a rested Novak Djokovic. The 24-time major winner was supposed to play a fourth-round match against Jakub Mensik on Monday. However, he received a walkover into the quarter-finals after his opponent withdrew due to an abdominal injury. This gives Djokovic an advantage as he will be fresh for his clash. Notably, Djokovic leads Musetti 9-1 in the ATP head-to-head series.