Lorenzo Musetti ruins Alexander Zverev’s debut as world number one. Great performance from the 24-year-old Carrara in the second round of the “Rolex Paris Masters”, the last €6,309,095 Masters 1000 of the season, taking place on the tough indoor arena of the Defense Arena in Paris. Musetti, after having made his debut by overcoming Hurkacz with two tie-breaks, surprisingly eliminated the German who, having bye in the first round, was in his first match as the new top of the ATP rankings: 7-6 (5) 6-2 after an hour and 40 minutes of play, the final that rewarded the Italian with his fourth success in six matches against the 29-year-old from Hamburg. For Musetti now the quarterfinal match against Luca Van Assche, number 47 ATP, who eliminated Learner Tien, seeded number 15, 7-6(4) 6-4.
“A victory that feels like personal revenge”
“This victory has an important meaning, of personal revenge: it was a difficult season, full of injuries, which affected me. But I had fun on the court, I had missed this passion which is what makes me express my best tennis.” This is how Lorenzo Musetti commented to Sky on his victory in the second round of the Masters 1000 in Paris over Alexander Zverev, in his first outing as the new world number 1. “I couldn’t think of winning by throwing it at the strongest shooter because he’s a heavyweight and I’m a welterweight – says the 24-year-old from Carrara – I had to try to manage it with my variations and I used my back well on this which is the fastest surface of the season. I’m also serving better in the important moments and that tie-break helped me then take command of the game in the second set”.