Musetti Tops Rublev in Hong Kong, Enters Top 5 in Live Rankings
Musetti will face Alexander Bublik in the first final between the top two seeds at Hong Kong since 1996.
It has been a good start to the new year for Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. The father of two reached the final in singles and doubles in Hong Kong, and after taking out Andrey Rublev 6-7(3), 7-5, 6-4 in the semifinals, he vaulted into the Top 5 in the ATP’s live rankings.
On Monday Musetti will become the third Italian to ever hold a Top-5 ranking, along with Adriano Panatta and Jannik Sinner.
Top-seeded Musetti will bid for his first title since 2022 on Sunday against second-seeded Alexander Bublik.
The Kazakh took out American Marcos Giron 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to reach the final.
Tennis ExpressBublik owns the 2-1 lifetime edge over Musetti in their head-to-head. Underarm serves and behind-the-back drives were a part of the world No.11’s repertoire as he improved to 33-9 since the start of Roland-Garros. Bublik will make his Top-10 debut on Monday if he can claim his ninth title in Sunday’s final.
Sunday’s final marks the fourth time in tournament history Top-2 seeds meet in the final, and the first since Pete Sampras faced Michael Chang for the Hong Kong title in 1996.
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