Lorenzo Musetti failed to get across the finish line against Novak Djokovic at the 2021 French Open. Once again in a winning position, Musetti made no mistake this time in round three of the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters on Thursday.
Serving for the match at 5-4 in the third set, Musetti missed two match points from 40-15 up and a third also went by the wayside, but he also saved one break point and eventually converted his fourth chance to pull off a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 upset. The 21-year-old prevailed after two hours and 54 minutes–not including a one-hour rain delay early in the decider–to set up a quarterfinal contest against fellow Italian Jannik Sinner.
“I am struggling not to cry,” Musetti said afterward. “It is an emotional win because it was a really long match–three-hour match and suspended by rain. It was not easy conditions because it was a little bit windy and cold–not like we used to play in the recent days. I am really proud of myself. I am struggling not to cry because it is a dream for me.”
The current world No. 1 had a chance for an even bigger win two years ago, when he led Djokovic by two sets to love during fourth-round action at Roland Garros. However, the Serb stormed back to take the next two sets and led 4-0 in the fifth set when Musetti retired.
Musetti would have endured more nightmares had he dropped serve at 5-4 on Thursday. Instead, he will rest easily and get ready for a showdown with Sinner.
wowzer
Huge break for Sinner.
Djokovic really did not play well.
He did not. Very out of sorts. The crowd booing him for no reason also seemed to upset him.
I legitimately think Sinner would have given Djokovic a thrashing with him playing like this
Well he wouldn’t necessarily play as badly against Sinner!
It’s true that if he played as he did today he would be thrashed.
Sorry that was me…