By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday July 10, 2024
Lorenzo Musetti edged Taylor Fritz in five sets to reach his maiden Slam semifinal at Wimbledon.
Photo Source: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Lorenzo Musetti entered the 2024 grass-court season with a 6-7 lifetime record on the surface, but the 22-year-old Italian has proven to be quite a ringer on the sports’ slippery surface in 2024.
He continued his rise on Centre Court on Wednesday, edging 13th-seeded Taylor Fritz 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to reach his maiden Grand Slam semifinal and set a date with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic.
"I think I didn't realize yet what I've done," Musetti said on court. "I had the opportunity to walk onto this amazing stadium, it was really an honor for me - I'm really happy to be in my first semifinal here.
"Probably I played my best tennis [in the fifth set], I kept the best for the end."
Musetti improves to 12-2 on grass in 2024, after entering this year’s Championships with a 2-3 lifetime record at SW19, where he had never been beyond the third round.
With his win he becomes the fourth Italian man to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, joining Nicola Pietrangeli (1960), Matteo Berretini (2021) and Jannik Sinner (2023) on that lofty list.
This year the Italian has demonstrated sublime feel for the game on grass, with vastly improved serving and fitness, better shot selection and stroke discipline. He has used all his strengths to take advantage of a manageable draw as he has put up his best Grand Slam result in 14 career appearances at the majors.
Musetti hit 11 winners in the final set against just three for Fritz, and won 28 of 41 points, including all seven at the net, in the decider.
He said his intensity and attitude were big factors in a turnaround that started after he was broken in the opening game of the second set.
"The second set I had a big reaction after the first break, at the start of the second set," Musetti said. "Immediately I changed my mind, I changed my attitude, and that probably made the difference. The attitude that I put on court all this week is making a big difference, and hopefully on Friday I am going to have the same one."
It was a disappointing day for Fritz, who was playing his fourth major quarterfinal, but was facing an opponent ranked lower than him for the first time. He struggled in the second and third sets in windy conditions, but appeared to be headed to a maiden major quarterfinal after a dominant fourth set forced a record 37th five-set match at this year's Wimbledon.
It was not meant to be.
"I think the more times I'm just putting myself in situations deep in slams, I'm going to get more comfortable," Fritz said. "I am ready to win and go further."
Musetti has faced Djokovic six times in total, losing five of those matches, including a thrilling five-setter at Roland-Garros in the third round last month. The Italian says that losing so many matches against top players in the past has steeled him, and helped him steadily improve his level.
"I think I made, of course, a step forward in the maturity and experience," he said. "Probably that losses with all big champions made me think, made me work harder. The win of today is probably the result.
"I think I can have a chance with Nole the next round."