A difficult test for Alcaraz. Can he handle a rematch with Italian Musetti?

Sunday’s menu at Roland Garros includes several delicacies. The biggest one will be the afternoon duel between the most watched player and number one seed Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti. The match against the Italian will be an all-out test for the Spanish favourite. Musetti definitely has a lot to build on.

In 2021, 19-year-old Italian Lorenzo Musetti takes the court against world tennis icon Novak Djokovic in the eighth round. The general expectation at the time was clear: Djokovic will be able to handle the Italian. The reality, however, was a little different.

Lorenzo Musetti did not lose the match then. On the contrary. Initially, he dominated many exchanges, showed excellent backhands down the line and his game was compared to a cat and mouse game in these phases of the match. And he played very well in the decisive moments. The first two sets were won by the then nineteen-year-old Italian in a tiebreak.

The Serbian tennis player then found an effective way of playing, won two sets for himself and in the decisive one Musetti broke. However, he left an excellent impression and received praise from his then opponent. Djokovic said that the young Italian is on the right track to become a top player.

He has already beaten his opponent today and the biggest favourite at the French Open. It happened last year in the final of the tournament in Hamburg. The dramatic duel was won by the Italian after 6::4, 6::7, 6::4. In the second set, the Italian missed five match points, but found the strength to win the final.

Musetti’s current form

The native of Carrara, Italy, is ranked 18th in the ATP rankings. He has never been this high before. He has been performing very well since April, with his most prized achievement being the semi-final in Barcelona. There, as well as later at his home event in Rome, his journey to Greece ended for Tsitsipas.

At Roland Garros, he has been magnificent so far. He hasn’t lost a set in three matches. Not only that, his three opponents have managed to win just 22 games in nine sets against Musetti. The Italian’s last smooth win so far was against Britain’s Norrie, the world number 13.

Today’s match

Carlos Alcaraz is also progressing sovereignly at the Paris Grand Slam so far, having lost just one set and, by comparison, his opponents have won a combined 24 games against him. A lot has changed since Musetti’s victory in their clash last year. Carlitos won the US Open and Indiana Wells and defended his triumphs at elite clay events in Barcelona and Madrid.

Still, the year-old triumph over Alcaraz is a valuable boost for the Italian. His coach Simone Tartarini does not want to overestimate last year’s final in Hamburg, but it certainly has its importance. From a tactical point of view, he and his charges know where to focus.

Tartarini also compared Musetti’s progress since his match with Djokovic. “He is a more mature player than he was two years ago, so he is more confident in himself and his tennis, both from a technical and tactical point of view,” he praised the 21-year-old for the Roland Garros website.

Lorenzo Musetti is likely to be the toughest obstacle for the tournament’s No. 1 player to face so far at Roland Garros. It will be very interesting to see how challenging he will be. The match is scheduled for this afternoon on Philippe Chatrier’s court.

Source : Roland Garros