Lorenzo Musetti Defeats Stan Wawrinka in Athens
Lorenzo Musetti's bid to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals was hanging by a thread on Wednesday, but the 23-year-old Italian stepped up to keep his hopes alive for a debut in Turin. Musetti overcame former world No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in a thrilling match.
As the second seed, Musetti must win the ATP 250 title to secure his place at the season finale. Reflecting on the pressure, Musetti said in his on-court interview:
“I think everybody knows what’s next in my mind, it’s not easy to play with that in my mind. But of course, if I want to qualify for [Turin], I have to lift the trophy here.”
A Battle of One-Handed Backhands
The match featured two of the game’s most elegant one-handed backhands. At 4-5 in the second-set tiebreak, Musetti was two points from defeat, but Wawrinka made two unforced errors, handing Musetti a crucial set point. Musetti sealed the set with a powerful forehand winner.
In the deciding set, Musetti played freely and aggressively, testing the limits of the 40-year-old Swiss player's endurance during their two-hour, 25-minute contest.
Musetti commented on Wawrinka's condition:
“He was not struggling physically at his age, so hopefully when I’m 40, I will do the same. A really, really big effort from Stan, but of course I’m really happy with the win.”
A Tribute to a Legend
Musetti expressed his admiration for Wawrinka, describing him as a lifelong inspiration:
“I want to say thanks for sharing a court with a legend, an inspiration since I was a kid, so a big applause to Stan who showed some impressive tennis today. I had to raise the level to win this match, especially in the third set.”
Next Opponent
Musetti will next face fifth-seeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
Author's summary: Musetti showed resilience and skill to overcome Wawrinka, keeping his dream of qualifying for the ATP Finals alive with an inspiring performance in Athens.