Lorenzo Sonego is a talented player with a side passion that sets him apart. Many recognize him as the Italian pro currently competing at the Australian Open. He has reached a career-high ranking of No. 21 and secured four titles, including wins at Winston-Salem, Metz, Cagliari, and Antalya. Now ranked No. 55, Sonego is heading into his first-ever quarterfinals at the Australian Open, where he will face Ben Shelton. That’s quite an achievement! But there’s more to Sonego than just tennis.

While many athletes have hobbies, Sonego has embraced music as his side passion. What began as a lighthearted endeavor in 2021 with his childhood friend Edoardo Pepe, known as ‘AlterEdo,’ blossomed into something remarkable. Their collaboration led to the hit song ‘Un Solo Secondo’ which translates to ‘One Single Second.’ This track captivated Italian listeners in 2023, amassing one million streams on Spotify.

Reflecting on their musical journey, Sonego shared with the ATP Tour website, “We did some songs together when we were young for a hobby. And then, we tried to do something together for enjoyment in the summer and only to enjoy the moment and do something different, not always [focus on] tennis.”

Despite facing challenges on the court in 2023—going the entire season without a title—his musical success became a highlight. While other players like Andrey Rublev and Denis Shapovalov have dabbled in music, Sonego stands out as the first to achieve one million streams with his song. The summer hit blends Latin rhythms with R&B sounds, surprising many with its popularity.

Additionally, Sonego’s music has resonated within the tennis community as well. Players have praised him in locker rooms, and his song was even played during a changeover at the 2023 ATP 250 event in Adelaide. “I remember [Alejandro] Davidovich Fokina came up to me and said he had tried my song, also [Matteo] Berrettini. That was nice,” he said to the ATP Tour website.

Now heading into his maiden Australian Open, he’s pumped to be making it this far in the first grand slam of the year. But has he kept in touch with his musical side despite the pressures of a hectic tour?

The Italian player’s 2025 Australian Open run so far

On January 20, Lorenzo Sonego became the first tennis player to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal while also boasting over one million streams on Spotify. His journey began with a hard-fought victory over Swiss legend Stan Wawrinka, winning 6-4, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5 in the first round. He continued his impressive run by defeating Brazilian qualifier Joao Fonseca 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the second round.

Sonego then advanced to the last 16 for the first time by beating Hungarian Fabian Marozsan 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6), 6-1, 6-2, before securing his quarterfinal spot with a thrilling four-set win against American teen Learner Tien, finishing 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. While Sonego’s on-court accomplishments are remarkable, his musical talents are equally impressive.

Right now, he has nearly 3,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. Alongside his first hit ‘Un Solo Secondo’, his next best track, ‘SWING,’ has also garnered attention with over 57,000 listens. Showing that he’s not just a player to look out for, but knows just how to balance his passions. Now, Sonego prepares for a showdown against American Ben Shelton in the quarterfinals. Will he pull off another surprise upset and perhaps drop another musical hit? Only time will tell!