By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Sunday July 24, 2022
Lorenzo Musetti converted his sixth championship point to defeat Carlos Alcaraz for the Hamburg title.
Photo Source: TTV
Lorenzo Musetti’s first ATP final nearly ended in bitter heartbreak. Instead it was jubilation for the 20-year-old unseeded Italian, who withstood an inspired comeback attempt from Carlos Alcaraz to claim his maiden title on a sunny Sunday in Hamburg, 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4.
Musetti, the tenth first-time winner on the ATP Tour in 2022, saw five championship points go begging in a thrilling middle set as Alcaraz rose to the occasion to create one of the more memorable finals of the 2022 season.
The final served as a preview of a potential rivalry between two of the most highly touted under-21 tennis players on the planet, and it did not disappoint as it produced stunning shotmaking, dramatic twists and sublime touch from two uniquely skilled talents.
“I have no words,” said Carrara, Italy native Musetti on court after his triumph. “It was a roller coaster until the end – I had so many match points, Carlos was so good at the match points, so many chances, but I think the key of the match was to keep the calm and all the passion in myself, because it was really not easy.”
Harrowing would be more like it.
Musetti had a pair of match points in a controversial tenth game of the second set, and Alcaraz showed his mettle after a blown call kept him from taking a 0-30 lead with his opponent serving at 5-4. Musetti’s backhand after a double bounce went uncalled by umpire Aurelie Tourte, and the Italian smashed a winner on the next ball to level at 15-all.
Alcaraz pleaded his case for a minute (replays confirmed that Musetti didn’t make contact in time) then got back to work, saving a first championship point when Musetti ripped a risky forehand long, then another with a dramatic running forehand winner that brought the crowd to its feet.
The top seed claimed the next two points to level at 5-all, but was not out of trouble yet.
Musetti earned three more championship points at 6-3 in the second-set tiebreak, but more Alcaraz magic ensued.
The 19-year-old Spaniard benefitted from a Musetti forehand error and a penetrating return to close to 5-6, then executed a delectable drop shot combo, finishing with a forehand into the open court for 6-all.
Two points later, he converted the set on a Musetti double-fault, sending the match to a decider.
Musetti said the key to the match was not overreacting to the trying set of circumstances that had rapidly unfolded at the end of set two.
“Carlos was putting so much effort on the match points, when he was down, so it was not easy to find the energy to come back, but I cannot describe what I’m feeling right now,” Musetti said. “Of course I was really upset, but I tried to not show my opponent my reaction, I tried to forgive myself for all the match points and all the points that I couldn’t make, so I think that was the most impressive thing even for me, because I didn’t expect the win after this roller coaster, and I’m super happy to be the champion.”
Musetti, who improved to 18-16 on the season and 13-6 on clay, delivered a steely third set. He never faced a break point and won eight of his final nine points on serve to keep momentum on his side of the court.
He converted his sixth championship point with Alcaraz serving in the tenth game of the set, at 4-5, 30-40. The Spaniard knocked a forehand long and Musetti dropped to his back on the clay, savoring a hard-earned moment and a career breakthrough.
“You deserve this tournament so much, you are a great worker, great player, and you work with an amazing team,” Alcaraz told him after the match. “It’s amazing that you lift this trophy today. We shared a lot of tough moments, playing juniors and the challengers and then to be able to play the final of an ATP 500 is amazing.”
Despite the loss, Alcaraz will enter the ATP’s Top-5 for the first time in Monday’s rankings – he will be the youngest player to achieve the feat since Rafael Nadal in 2005.
Musetti will rise considerably in the rankings as well, jumping to a career-high 31, all the way from 62.
“You saved so many match points today it was really tough to close the match,” Musetti told Alcaraz during the trophy ceremony. “You are an extremely hard worker, you inspire me a lot, and that’s why I think I did this, I sacrificed myself more, so I want to thank you for this.”