Overview
- Lorenzo Musetti defeated ninth seed Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4, striking 13 aces and winning 84% of his first‑serve points while not dropping a service game on two break points faced.
- Fritz tallied 23 winners to Musetti’s 33, committed 34 unforced errors, and was broken five times in the straight‑sets loss.
- Novak Djokovic reached the last eight after Jakub Mensik withdrew with an abdominal injury, setting up the quarter-final against Musetti.
- Post‑match, Fritz said he nearly withdrew from Melbourne due to knee and abdominal concerns, with ultrasound and MRI scans showing no obvious oblique tear as he manages pain and rehabilitation.
- Musetti dedicated the win to absent staff after coach Simone Tartarini returned to Italy following his mother's death and fitness trainer Damiano Fiorucci left for health reasons, while Fritz targets a return at the Dallas Open starting February 9 if recovery progresses.