Fortune hunter: Novak Djokovic reaches AUS Open semifinals after winning just 9 sets, but that's not a record for the Serb

Back in 2016, Novak delivered an even more astonishing feat.

Details: After Novak Djokovic advanced to the AUS Open semifinals when Lorenzo Musetti retired while leading 2-0 in sets, the number of sets the Serb needed to reach this stage totaled just 9.

This marks the second consecutive round where Djokovic has benefited from an opponent's injury withdrawal.

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However, the Serb’s career features a tournament where his path to a Grand Slam semifinal was even more impressive and brief. At the 2016 US Open, Djokovic needed to win only 8 sets to reach the semifinals.

That year, Djokovic recorded one walkover and two retirements by his opponents.

Novak Djokovic’s route to the 2016 US Open semifinals:

• 1st round (August 30, 2016)
  Novak Djokovic — Jerzy Janowicz
  6–3, 5–7, 6–2, 6–1.
• 2nd round (August 31, 2016)
  Novak Djokovic — Jiri Vesely
  walkover (Vesely withdrew).
• 3rd round (September 2, 2016)
  Novak Djokovic — Mikhail Youzhny
  walkover (Youzhny retired).
• Round of 16 (September 5, 2016)
  Novak Djokovic — Kyle Edmund
  6–2, 6–1, 6–4.
• Quarterfinals (September 7, 2016)
  Novak Djokovic — Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
  6–3, 6–2.

That year, Djokovic reached the US Open final but lost to Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka in four sets, 1–3.

Reminder: Drama: Novak Djokovic advances to AUS Open semifinals as Lorenzo Musetti retires. What happened?