By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday July 10, 2024
Lorenzo Musetti turned the fourth Italian man to succeed in a Wimbledon semifinalo on Wednesday, edging previous American Taylor Fritz in a tense, back-and-forth tussle, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
At 22, the World No.25 has a world of massive match expertise, even when most of it has come on the clay. He hopes that high-stakes battle with the likes of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and others have ready him for his subsequent massive problem: a semifinal with seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic on Centre Court on Friday.
“I’ve had many, many tough losses,” the 22-year-old stated on Wednesday after his breakthrough win. “I think I made, of course, a step forward in the maturity and experience. Probably that losses with all big champions made me think, made me work harder.”
For those that didn’t count on Musetti to nonetheless be on this draw at this stage of Wimbledon, be a part of the membership. The Italian entered the grass season with a 6-7 general document on the floor, however one thing has clicked for him in 2024. After his win over Fritz he’s now 12-2 on grass for the season.
Musetti, on his win as we speak at #Wimbledon “For me it’s kind of magic day. I have to say after the birth of my son, I will put in the second position today for my career. Of course, for my career is the best day of my life.”
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) July 10, 2024
How has he accomplished it?
He says selection has helped him take management of his one-dimensional opponents that would like to play one model.
“It’s certainly something that I’m really working on,” he says. “Since I was a kid, I always didn’t like to do the same stuff on the court, not to be, let’s say, mono-automatic on the court. Probably it’s a good help on grass, and I’m using it this week.”
Another enchancment that Musetti has made is his angle. He has talked repeatedly of the enhancements he has made in that division.
“I think in the past weeks, starting from Stuttgart, I started to feel more continuous on that, on the attitude. Even today [against Fritz] I have to thank myself for the attitude that I had, especially losing the first set in not, say, a positive way where I didn’t feel my serve really well. I didn’t feel the ball. I was a little bit nervous. Then immediately with a positive attitude I changed all my mindset, and also the feeling with the ball was better. So that’s probably what I have to do in the next round also.”
Though he’ll be the heavy underdog in opposition to Djokovic but once more, Musetti says that the losses he has had in opposition to the 24-time main champion are solely making him stronger. He has gained simply considered one of their six matches, however has notably taken the Serbian legend to 5 units twice at Roland-Garros, together with this yr within the third spherical.
All that follow has made him a greater participant, he says.
“I have to say with Nole, after the match I always finished with a lesson,” Musetti stated. “Of course, the last match was really an intense match from both players and a really stressful match. Against him you are probably more stressed because he’s probably the best player ever, or one of the best players ever.
“You walk on court with a different mentality. As I said before, I think if I play in a certain way, I could have my shot in the next round.”
Source: www.tennisnow.com
