Holder Alcaraz up against Medvedev in the semis
LONDON: Lorenzo Musetti's play has been doing some talking at Wimbledon. The 22-yearold Italian is the owner of a single-handed backhand, that's all art, and a forehand that's precise and fiery. Timing is his touch. Musetti, 6 ft 1', is slightly built, and has wheels that are both fast and sturdy.
If the world No.25's win over Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, putting him in the last-four of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career, is any indication of the mental miles he may have covered in recent weeks, expect a cracker of a last-four clash against the seven-time champion Novak Djokovic on Friday.
In the first of the last-four clashes -defending champion Carlos Alcaraz goes up against Daniil Medvedev in a replay of their US Open semifinals last September.
Musetti trails Djokovic 1-5 in head-to-head clashes, their rivalry (so far) bookended by their only two meetings in majors, both at Roland Garros, and on both occasions Musetti going down in five-sets without winning a game in the deciding set. The first time was three years ago, a teenager then, he retired from the match (when trailing 0-4 in the fifth set) and again last month in the third round after Musetti had taken the second and third sets.
The Italian was in a similar situation against Fritz, leading by two-sets-to-one. The American fell back 0-40 in the fifth game of the fourth set, where Musetti had four chances to break, but came up short.
The Italian media groaned in unison, they had seen this before. In his box his long-time coach Simone Tartarini could hardly believe all that was playing out before him.
Musetti was doing a Musetti again. Until he undid it in a stirring fifth set where he lost just 13 points. The 22-year-old's Roland Garros third-round match against Djokovic finished at 3 am. "I had my chances. I didn't take the chances, especially in the fourth where I was leading," Musetti said at Wimbledon, some 40 days later. "I have analyzed that match, the key moments and where I could do better. I put myself in that position again. In the past weeks, I started to feel more continuous with that attitude."
In his two grasscourt events before Wimbledon Musetti made the semifinal in Stuttgart and final at Queen's Club. "Even against Fritz I have that attitude, especially after losing the first set where I didn't feel my serve really well. I didn't feel the ball. I was a little bit nervous," he said.
"Then immediately with a positive attitude I changed my mindset, and also the feeling with the ball was better."
The Italian's victory over Fritz has given him a 4-6 win-loss record in five-set matches.
"I've had many, many tough losses (at Grand Slams). Especially in the French Open," he said. "The losses made me think, made me work harder."
"With Djokovic, I always finished the match with a lesson," Musetti said. "Against him you are probably more stressed because he's probably the best player ever or one of the best players ever. If I play in a certain way, I could have my shot in the next round."
