ATP NextGen Masters: Lorenzo Musetti starts with a sovereign victory
Tournament favorite Lorenzo Musetti got off to a perfect start at the #NextGen Masters in Milan. Another Italian, on the other hand, had to give in.
by tennisnet.com
last edit:
Nov 08, 2022, 04:58 pm
First of all, the hint that the #NextGen finals somehow convey a touch of nostalgia as well. Because in Milan the game is played without double lines, like in the past at the ATP Finals, when the pair runners chose their unofficial world champions in a different place than the single artists. Otherwise, for the best U-21 players on the tour, the annual financial statements are of course a haven of innovation, a blueprint for changes that should eventually also arrive on the regular tour.
And you have to give the Italian tennis fans credit for one thing after the first day: Even if the hall in Milan has a significantly smaller capacity than that in Fort Worth and the spectator seats are much easier to fill in percentage terms - the mood on the opening day was already in the afternoon -Session pretty good.
What was also due to the schedule: Francesco Passaro was initially allowed to play, but had no order against the Czech Jiri Lehecka at 1: 4, 3: 4 (7) and 1: 4. In the second match, Lorenzo Musetti did better from the point of view of the local heroes. And won against Chun-Hsin Tseng 4:2, 4:2 and 4:2.
Rune in Turin, Alcaraz injured
Musetti, who also won two tournaments on the ATP tour in Hamburg and Naples this year, has to carry the entire burden of the favorite in Milan. It was clear long before the Spaniard's injury-related end of the season that defending champion Carlos Alcaraz would not start. Alcaraz would have competed in the ATP Finals in Turin.
And there, quite surprisingly, Holger Rune is also in the starting blocks. The Dane is the first substitute after his triumph in Paris-Bercy. As last year in particular showed, when Cameron Norrie and Jannik Sinner had to step in for the injured Matteo Berrettini and Stfanos Tsitsipas, it could well be that Rune is actually used.