“I don’t know if I will play in Paris”: Lorenzo Musetti casts doubt over Roland Garros after heavy Rome defeat

Lorenzo Musetti was eliminated from the Rome Open in a disappointing performance against Casper Ruud, in which he barely managed to win four games before being defeated 3–6, 1–6 by the three-time Grand Slam finalist. Musetti leaves Rome offering an apology to the Italian crowd and has cast doubt over his participation in Roland Garros.

The 8th seed had come from a convincing win against Francisco Cerúndolo in the third round, which increased expectations for his tournament run — especially considering he was a semifinalist in Rome in 2025.

However, against Ruud he was far from his level, winning only 50% of his service points and 29% of return points, along with a total of 25 unforced errors compared to Ruud’s 14. Musetti ended his run at the Foro Italico apologising for a heavy defeat in front of his home crowd.

“I apologise. I am very disappointed with my performance,” he began in the press conference after a defeat marked by physical issues. “Unfortunately, today my physical condition did not allow me to play the way I would have liked. I did not want to retire because I am tired of retirements, especially in front of my home crowd.”

A year ago, Musetti was one of the best players on the clay swing, ranking second in victories on the surface only behind Carlos Alcaraz. The Italian reached the final in Monte Carlo, semifinals in Madrid and Rome, and the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, marking his arrival into the Top 10, where he remained until this week.

His early exit in Rome — where he was eliminated in the round of 16 — will cost him points and cause a drop in the rankings. It is expected that Musetti will fall out of the Top 10 for the first time in a year, currently sitting at No. 11, although under pressure due to important points to defend in Paris in the coming weeks.

However, the main concern is not only ranking points or ATP positioning, but also his participation in the second Grand Slam of the year. Physical problems have resurfaced for the one-handed backhand player, who raised doubts in the press conference about whether he will be able to compete at the French Open.

“For now, I don’t know if I will play in Paris. I will undergo more detailed tests in the coming days,” said the 24-year-old. “I have been suffering from this injury since the start of the tournament and I have not been able to get it checked properly because I have been playing almost every day and trying to manage it as best as possible. I hope it is nothing more serious than it seems, so I can be present at Roland Garros.”

“I am going through a very difficult period in this stage of my career, marked by numerous injuries. This is something that had never happened to me before. It is hard to cope with, and mentally it is difficult to stay calm in this situation. Perhaps I only felt good during the first two matches in Madrid. The rest of the time, I have been playing on one leg. Today, for example, I was afraid to put weight on my left leg. I had many problems finding support and strength in that leg.”