Lorenzo Musetti Withdraws from Acapulco Open

The fifth-ranked player continues recovery from a psoas muscle injury suffered at the Australian Open.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 4:47pm

Italian tennis player Lorenzo Musetti has withdrawn from the Acapulco Open as he continues to recover from a psoas muscle injury he sustained during his quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open last month. Musetti was leading Djokovic 6-4, 6-3, 1-3 when the injury forced him to retire from the match.

Why it matters

Musetti's withdrawal from Acapulco raises questions about his participation in the upcoming BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which is scheduled to start in the first week of March. The injury has sidelined the fifth-ranked player, who was looking to build on his strong performance at the Australian Open.

The details

In a post on Instagram, Musetti said he had just undergone a medical evaluation and needs to continue his rehabilitation before he can return to competition. The 24-year-old Italian was working on adapting his game to be more aggressive and suited for hard courts in the lead-up to the Australian Open, where he had a breakthrough performance before the injury.

  • Musetti suffered the psoas muscle injury during his Australian Open quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic last month.
  • Musetti has withdrawn from the Acapulco Open, which is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

The players

Lorenzo Musetti

A 24-year-old Italian tennis player who is currently ranked 5th in the world. He was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open quarterfinal match against Novak Djokovic due to a psoas muscle injury.

Novak Djokovic

A Serbian professional tennis player who is considered one of the greatest players of all time, having won 20 Grand Slam singles titles.

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What they’re saying

“You know, he was a better player on the court. He was close to win it. He was in the control, and then obviously something happens.”

— Novak Djokovic

“Hi all, just wanted to share an update on my recovery. I've just had my medical evaluation and unfortunately need to continue my rehabilitation before I can get back on court and compete. Sadly, this means I won't be able to play in Acapulco. Thanks to everyone for the continued support – can't wait to be back!”

— Lorenzo Musetti

What’s next

Musetti's participation in the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, which starts in the first week of March, is now in question as he continues his recovery from the psoas muscle injury.

The takeaway

Musetti's withdrawal from the Acapulco Open highlights the challenges professional tennis players face in managing injuries and maintaining their fitness throughout the demanding tournament schedule. His recovery will be closely watched as he aims to return to the court and build on his strong performance at the Australian Open.