ATP Master Monte Carlo: Sensational Musetti defeats top favorite Djokovic
With a consistently courageous performance , Lorenzo Musetti beat world number one Novak Djokovic 4: 6, 7: 5 and 6: 4 in a sometimes heated game.
by Dietmar Kaspar
last edit:
Apr 13, 2023, 08:08 pm
When looking at previous encounters, 35-year-old Djokovic went into the encounter against Lorenzo Musetti as the clear favorite with a 3-0 record. However, the only encounter between the two players on clay where the Serb clinched victory after falling 2-0 sets down at Roland Garros 2021 should give the 21-year-old Italian hope of an upset.
After a quick 3-1 lead from Djokovic, the Italian youngster found his way into the game better, but had to give up the first set after several losses on both sides. In a balanced second round, in which the momentum changed several times, Musetti kept his nerve and was able to equalize the set. After both protagonists did not initially show any weakness in the decision-making process with their own service, Musetti, seeded No. 16, secured the decisive break in the eighth game of the set. In a long service game, in which Djokovic was able to fend off two match points, Musetti thwarted his Serbian opponent's break chances and served to the 4: 6, 7: 5, 6: 4 success to thunderous cheers from the numerous Italian spectators. After the match, he commented in an on-court interview: "It was cold today and the conditions to play were completely different from the last few days. Of course, a win against Novak is something indescribable."
In the round of the last eight, a compatriot is waiting for the current number 21 in the world. Jannik Sinner, seeded No. 7, defeated Hubert Hurkacz from Poland, who was in 10th place, in his quarterfinals after initial difficulties 3:6, 7:6, 6:1