In a rain-delayed showdown on a Saturday afternoon, world No. 16 Lorenzo Musetti triumphed over No. 10 Alex de Minaur in a gripping Monte-Carlo match.
The contest was intense, with Musetti making a remarkable second-set comeback to seal the win.
Musetti’s Comeback Performance
The match was a true test of resilience for Musetti, who managed to claw his way back from a tough first set.
The final score of 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) reflected Musetti’s determination, mirroring his earlier quarter-final performance against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where he turned around the match after losing the first set 6-1.
De Minaur’s Impressive Run Ends
De Minaur, who had been in stellar form throughout the tournament, was looking to reach his first-ever ATP Masters 1000 final on clay.
His performance in the quarter-finals, where he demolished Grigor Dimitrov with a 6-0, 6-0 victory, had fans hoping for another strong showing.
If successful, he would have been the second Australian after Patrick Rafter in 1999 to reach a clay court final.
Unfortunately for De Minaur, the change in weather seemed to change his form, giving Musetti the opening he needed to complete his comeback.
Musetti’s Historic Achievement
With his victory, Musetti became the third Italian player to reach the Monte-Carlo final in the Open Era, following in the footsteps of Corrado Barazzutti (1977) and Fabio Fognini (2019).
The win also places him in the top 10 of the ATP rankings for the first time, alongside Fognini and Matteo Berrettini as the third Italian ATP Masters 1000 finalist on clay.
A Dream Come True for Musetti
In his post-match interview, Musetti described making it to the final as a dream come true.
“It’s been a rollercoaster of emotions,” he said, reflecting on the tough matches he had faced throughout the week.
He noted that, aside from his match against Berrettini, most of his matches had been long three-set battles.
Despite the challenges, he had fought hard, often coming from behind to secure victories.
Looking Ahead to the Final Against Alcaraz
With the final now set, Musetti will face world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, and the Italian is keen to build on the lessons learned from their last meeting in a final three years ago in Hamburg.
“It was a rollercoaster match,” Musetti recalled, reflecting on the tough loss after leading, which included several match and championship points.
He is hopeful he can maintain his focus and replicate his mental resilience to compete against Alcaraz in the final.
As Musetti gears up for the biggest match of his career, the stakes are high, and all eyes will be on Monte-Carlo as the two players battle it out for the prestigious title.