Italian Lorenzo Musetti earned the biggest win of his career Thursday at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where he upset World No. 1 Novak Djokovic 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 quarter-final.
Competing in wet and windy conditions on Court Rainier III, the 21-year-old Italian exploited a weak serving performance from Djokovic, breaking the Serbian eight times en route to a two-hour, 54-minute win. After converting his fourth match point, an emotional Musetti looked at his team and shook his head in disbelief.
Djokovic began the week with an ATP Tour-leading 58.7 winning percentage behind his second serve according to Infosys ATP Stats. Against Musetti he won just 39 per cent of his second-serve points (12/31). Entering the match the Serbian had lost serve just 17 times in 17 matches this year. Against Musetti he dropped serve eight times.
Musetti entered the clash with momentum, having defeated Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6(1), 6-0 and Luca Nardi 6-0, 6-0. The 21-year-old Italian, who is into his second Masters 1000 quarter-final after reaching the last eight in Paris in 2022, opened his shoulders as the match went on, crushing the ball off both wings to triumph.
The 21-year-old is up to No. 20 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings and would climb to No. 17 if he defeats Sinner. That would mark a new career-high for the Italian.
Djokovic was chasing a record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 title this week. The Serbian is a two-time champion in Monte-Carlo, having triumphed in 2013 and 2015.
Source: Qatar News Agency
