Lorenzo Musetti exclusively: short-term tournament victory and top 50, medium-term the really big titles
Lorenzo Musetti made his first breakthrough on the ATP tour in 2021. The young Italian is currently just outside the top 50 in the world rankings. The 19-year-old from Carrara explains his short- and medium-term goals to tennisnet.com .
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit:
Feb 21, 2022, 01:44 pm
Out of nowhere, at the end of 2020, this young, stylish Italian suddenly appeared with the irresistible one-handed backhand and a name that sticks: Lorenzo Musetti. In September 2020, the Italian eliminated two former absolute world-class players, Kei Nishikori and Stan Wawrinka, in an elegant and relaxed manner, reached his first round of 16 on the ATP tour at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Rome - and quickly played himself into the limelight.
The 19-year-old's greatest success so far was to follow about six months later when Musetti reached the semi-finals in Acapulco - at the ATP 500 event in Mexico. And with Diego Schwartzman, I was able to win against a man from the top 10 for the first time. "Last year was really incredible because I didn't expect it at all. I was just surprised," Musetti says today. Of course, the development of the man from Carrara has not stopped since then - the Italian is now firmly in the top 100, just a few places away from the top 50.
Musetti and the Djokovic match in Paris
However, even this success story, which is still very young, is not entirely without blemishes. The origin of the Italian's first minor crisis? A most curious one. Fast forward to June 2021: For the first time, young Musetti is also aiming high at Grand Slam level - Goffin, Nishioka and Cecchinato are at a disadvantage, the Italian is in the round of the last 16 for the first time. And he can use his number there one of the world's arguably best tennis players on the planet at the time. With Novak Djokovic.
Two sets, two tie-breaks, to be precise, later the 19-year-old is 2-0 in front. And a sensation in the air. But then a break. Disillusionment follows a few minutes later, Musetti only manages to win one more game, at the end of the fifth set the Italian pulls the rip cord and resigns when the score is 0:4. A behavior that is not without criticism. And that should definitely herald a tough negative run for Musetti. The 19-year-old has to endure five tournaments in a row before finally winning again at the US Open against number 385 in the tennis world.
All in all, a positive start to the 2022 season
A tough time, as Musetti now emphasizes to tennisnet.com: "In the last year I had some problems off the court. I started working with a psychologist on the mental component, who helped me to manage my feelings on and off of the tennis court." Postscript: "It is very important for me to be fit in this area as well." The reward is a long time coming, the world number 57 manages it in Rotterdam and Pune. to the quarter-finals in a row at the start of the 2022 season. A liberation.
This was preceded by a four-set defeat in the first round of the Australian Open. The opening tournament in Adelaide earlier had also ended before it had even gotten started. "It wasn't an easy start for me in Australia, but I didn't play badly. That's why I just kept working and then the results came in Rotterdam," Musetti emphasizes from a distance. This week, Musetti will have a rematch with Djokovic at the ATP 500 event in Dubai.
Tennis hype in Italy
The Italian finds encouragement and inspiration from many sources. But especially in your own country. Berrettini, Sinner, Sonego, Fognini and of course himself: five Italians are among the top 60 in the tennis world. "We push each other to achieve top performance. I also think that this fact is very good for the Davis Cup team," says Musetti. The popularity of tennis in his home country also increases with these achievements: "The fans in Italy are now much more involved." That was also evident at the ATP finals in Turin - with the participation of Berrettini and Sinner.
Inspiration can also be found among peers – especially with Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jannik Sinner it is important for the 19-year-old to keep up: “I hope I will join them as often as possible and yes, Jannik and Felix are both in the top 10 so I'm trying to get close to them," Musetti said. Together with Carlos Alcaraz, these are the men who "are the future of tennis", as the Italian explains.
Down-to-earth goals with the shooting star
How to recognize Musetti among the named? Undoubtedly thanks to his backhand, which the Italian himself sees as his greatest strength: "The one-handed backhand is probably my best shot. I've always played it quite naturally and I really like mixing the drop shot with the slice," he said Italian for whom the stroke simply feels "natural". And that's where the consistency comes from.
When asked about his goals, the shooting star remains (positively) surprisingly down-to-earth, this year the lasting leap into the top 50 should succeed. There are currently seven places missing. Winning the title would make the season a very good one. In the long term, however, the 19-year-old wants to establish himself at the top: "In the next five years I would like to be part of the top 10 in the world rankings and fight for one of the big titles."
The interview with Lorenzo Musetti was conducted in writing.