Lorenzo Musetti’s hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals hung by a thread on Wednesday, but the Italian took the opportunity to continue his quest for a debut in Turin.
The 23-year-old defeated former No. 3 Stan Wawrinka 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals of the Vanda Pharmaceuticals Hellenic Championship. The second seed must win the ATP 250 title to qualify for the season finale.
“I think everyone knows what awaits me. It’s not easy to play with that,” said a relieved Musetti in his on-court interview. “But of course I want to qualify for that [Turin]I have to lift the trophy in the air here.”
In a clash between two of the most picturesque one-handed backhands, Musetti was two points away from defeat at 4/5 in the second set tiebreak. However, the Swiss then made two unforced errors, giving Musetti a set point, which he took with a booming forehand winner. Musetti played with renewed ease in the decider, swinging freely and moving forward as he tested the 40-year-old’s physical limits throughout the two-hour, 25-minute battle.
“He didn’t have any physical problems at his age, so hopefully I’ll do the same when I’m 40,” Musetti said with a laugh. “A very, very big effort from Stan, but of course I am very happy with the victory.
“I want to thank you for sharing a court with a legend, an inspiration since I was a child, so a big round of applause for Stan who showed some impressive tennis today. I had to raise the level to win this match, especially in the third set.”
Next up for Musetti is fifth-seeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller. Musetti will take revenge on Muller, who defeated the Italian in Marrakech in 2023. Muller has saved a match point in his first two matches, with his latest win a 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 7-6(3) victory against Tomas Martin Etcheverry. The Argentinian held a match point on the return at 6-5 in the second set.
Earlier, Miomir Kecmanovic defeated third seed Luciano Darderi 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. In his fourth quarter-final of the year, Kecmanovic leads the Italian 3-1 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series, with all four meetings taking place in 2025. Kecmanovic is aiming for his second title of the season after victory in Delray Beach. He then meets the American Sebastian Korda.
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