By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday October 25, 2024
The Italian continues to impress in his finest season as a pro. He defeated former champion Zverev for his biggest career hard court win on Friday.
Photo Source: TTV
Lorenzo Musetti has proven himself as an elite talent on the ATP Tour in 2024, time and time again. The Queen’s Club final on grass, a Wimbledon semifinal and an Olympic bronze medal on the Parisian clay are just a few of the impressive performances the 22-year-old Italian has put forth.
The World no.17 continued his progress on Friday, rallying for a 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over Alexander Zverev to set a semifinal clash with Jack Draper.
“It didn’t start like we planned,” Musetti said of the two hour and 37-minute triumph. “I was struggling to find the right balance with the forehand and the variation on my backhand, but I stayed there.”
Musetti’s win is his first ever Top-10 win on a hardcourt and his 40th win of 2024 overall.
Musetti had defeated Zverev the Olympic quarterfinals in Paris in August, 7-5, 7-5, and he improved to 2-1 lifetime over the German with Friday’s victory. He hit 35 winners to 23 for Zverev, including 26 off the forehand wing to just 10 for Zverev.
Musetti was magnificent in the second set breaker to force a third set, rallying from 3-0 down. And he made 77 percent of his first serves in the final set, and dropped just six of those to keep Zverev at bay.
He raced out to a double break lead, gave one break back, but held serve the rest of the way to close out the victory.
“It’s definitely a match that means a lot to me,” he said. “I think it’s a big one, because Sascha, I think he really loves to play here. … I was feeling in good shape, and today I showed it.”
Earlier on Friday Jack Draper edged past Tomas Machac, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1. The World No.18 reached his 8th ATP semifinal and will take a 2-0 head-to-head record into his third career meeting with Musetti.