via Getty
A detailed view of an ATP TOUR logo on a tennis net during the semifinal round of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2019 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
via Getty
A detailed view of an ATP TOUR logo on a tennis net during the semifinal round of the Western & Southern Open at Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 17, 2019 in Mason, Ohio. (Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
19-year-old tennis star Lorenzo Musetti made headlines at the French Open 2021. The Italian overpowered Novak Djokovic in the first two sets of their clash but could not bag the winner at Roland Garros. Since then, he’s been dealing with various difficulties and hasn’t been able to focus on his game.
Back on tour post the US Open 2021, Musetti played his first match at Astana Open at Nur Sultan, the capital of Kazakhstan. However, as the teenager opened his campaign with a 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Australian qualifier Marc Polmans, his post-match revelations caught the attention of world media.
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Lorenzo Musetti’s relationship issues
In the post-match interview, the teenager opened up on the ongoings in his personal life. He confessed, “I had a lot in my head inside the court and outside the court. I broke up with my girlfriend, things like this.”
“After the French Open, I was really under the spotlight. Media and things outside, maybe I gave too much time to that and didn’t focus enough on my tennis. It’s been a hard period for me.”
via Reuters
Tennis – French Open – Roland Garros, Paris, France – June 7, 2021 Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in action during his fourth round match against Serbia’s Novak Djokovic REUTERS/Christian Hartmann
“I had lost the spirit of tennis, the passion that I had,” he added. Musetti has now entered the round of 16 at Astana Open and will next face Laslo Đere of Serbia.
Next-Gen Tennis star’s US Open run
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Lorenzo Musetti had an ordinary season at the US Open. He gained notoriety for his heroics against Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the French Open. However, the world number one remained adamant, winning the match after Musetti withdrew in the fifth set because of injury.
USA Today via Reuters
Sep 2, 2021; Flushing, NY, USA; Reilly Opelka of the United States celebrates after recording match point against Lorenzo Musetti of Italy in a second round match on day four of the 2021 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
The Italian won in four sets against Emilio Nava of the United States in the first round of the US Open 2021. However, in the second round, he was up against the in-form Reilly Opelka. Putting his experience on display, Reily whitewashed Musetti in straight sets and won the game comfortably.
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Opening up on his time at the Flushing Meadows, Lorenzo said, “It came back in New York. It was the first tournament we could go out in the city. I started to train better, more consistency and finally I’m smiling. I am not the sad person I was recently.”
Read more: Novak Djokovic’s Class Act to Help Lorenzo Musetti at US Open 202
