Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti has faced a wave of criticism from fans, who believe he lacked determination in his Australian Open quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic.

In what was arguably a low point in his career, the 23-year-old athlete withdrew during the third set on Wednesday after initially leading 6-4, 6-3.

The fifth-seeded Musetti was forced to retire due to an upper leg injury, visibly devastated as his hopes for a Grand Slam semi-final appearance at Melbourne Park vanished abruptly.

However, social media users were skeptical, with many insisting that the Italian should have pushed through the discomfort.

One user commented, “Musetti gives up too easily. He lacks the fighting spirit,” on X.

Tennis fans have turned on Lorenzo Musetti, with some feeling he didn’t show enough fight on court during his quarter-final match against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open

In undoubtedly one of the lowest points of his career, the crestfallen Italian retired after winning the first two sets in fine style 

Musetti has been forced to retire injured in the second week of a Grand Slam on four occasions, including the semi-final of the 2025 French Open against Carlos Alcaraz

Another user harshly doubted Musetti’s injury explanation to the press, expressing disbelief.

Former US tennis star Brad Gilbert also couldn’t believe the outcome, posting on X he was ‘still trying to process’ it. 

He also questioned why Musetti didn’t ‘wait for the pain killer tablets to kick in’ during the third set.

Musetti’s body failing him in majors is nothing new.

He has been forced to retire in the second week of a Grand Slam on four occasions, with three of those setbacks in the past 12 months, including the semi-final of the 2025 French Open against Carlos Alcaraz.  

‘I felt there was something strange in my right leg,’ Musetti told reporters.

‘You know, I continued to play, because I was playing really, really, really well, but I was feeling the pain increasing, and the problem was not going away.

‘So then I took the medical time-out…'(But) when I started to play again, I felt even more (pain)…it was getting higher and higher the level of pain.

One tennis fan stated his view that ‘Musetti retires way too easily’ before questioning his fight

Tennis identity Brad Gilbert also tweeted he was ‘still trying to process’ Musetti retiring when in control of his quarter-final clash against Novak Djokovic

Another tennis fan bluntly posted he ‘didn’t believe’ that Musetti’s injury was so severe the Italian had no choice but to retire

A third felt previous stars on the professional circuit would have ‘died on court’ in a bid to win a Grand Slam quarter-final

World No.13 Holger Rune sympathised with Musetti, who he lauded for ‘listening to his body’ 

‘I honestly have no words to describe how I’m feeling right now…and how tough it is for me (injury) in this moment.’

Danish star Holger Rune defended Musetti, pointing out to tennis fans the outcome after he previously battled on with a leg complaint.

‘Look what happened to me when I pushed through a grade 1 tear in the leg. It cost me longer time away from tennis than ever before,’ the world No.13 posted on X.

‘Yes we want to fight at any cost and with pain, but I perfectly understand Musetti chose to listen to his body.’