Photo Source: TTV
It has been groundhog day for Lorenzo Musetti in Monte-Carlo this week – but in the best possible way. On Saturday, for the fourth time in five matches the 23-year-old Italian rallied from a set down to win, defeating Australia’s Alex de Minaur, 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4).
The Italian reaches his first Masters 1000 final and will face Carlos Alcaraz for the title. Musetti is the third Italian to play the Monte-Carlo final.
More: Alcaraz Wins All-Spanish Semifinal to Reach Maiden Monte-Carlo Final
“I have had to repeat the same match everyday in Monte-Carlo,” Musetti said, referring to his capacity for coming back from a set down this week. He has rallied from a deficit in four of his five matches.
“I always struggle to start to find the rhythm, but today Alex was playing really solid.”
Musetti may have struggled but once he got comfortable in the slow, drizzly conditions, he played beautiful tennis and got the finish line just ahead of De Minaur, who was excellent as well across the two hour and 38-minute contest. “At the beginning I was not, let’s say, appreciating the conditions, and it was really slow today with the rain and the humidity,” Musetti said. “It was not easy to break through Alex’s wall. At the end I started to be really patient and that was the key.”
It was a back and forth contest once the second set commenced, with Musetti and De Minaur both taking part in elevated rallies under pressure. Musetti jumped out to an early lead but was reeled back by the Aussie, as the pair traded breaks and were locked at 4-all.
Then Musetti struck with a break for 5-4 before consolidating to level up the match.
In the third set another trade of breaks early led to a trade of breaks late. Musetti served for the win at 5-4 but couldn’t contain De Minaur.
They marched into a tiebreak, where De Minaur’s errors started to mount as the Italian held the steadier hand and finally claimed his victory, converting his first match point before an emotional celebration began.
It was hands on knees and tears, then hugs for the team after the handshake.
“You have to experience it to believe it, it’s something really remarkable and awesome honestly, sharing all these beautiful moments with my friends and my family,” Musetti said.
Alcaraz and Musetti have met four times, with the Spaniard winning their last three matchups. Their first match was the pair’s only final – it was won by Musetti in Hamburg in 2022. Since then Alcaraz has won all seven sets he has contested against Musetti.