Paris 1924: Uberto de Morpurgo 🥉 Paris 2024: Lorenzo Musetti 🥉 100 years of Italian history at the #Olympics 🇮🇹 #Paris2024 #tennis
Lorenzo Musetti (No. 16) defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 19) to win the bronze medal for Italy at the Olympic Games. The 22-year-old player shows again the great moment he is living, winning 20 of the last 25 matches he played and securing a new medal for Italian tennis.
Despite the absence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, Musetti stood up for Italy. The young Italian had a great tournament, reaching the semifinals and although he lost to Djokovic, he won the bronze medal. He will join Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini, who qualified for the women's doubles final and will be in contention for the gold medal.
The Italian started quickly putting pressure on his opponent's serve and got the break in the first game after five opportunities. With the advantage, Musetti showed good weapons on serve, with a 70% first serve percentage, winning 74% of them and 63% with the second serve.
The Canadian waited for his chance and in the 8th game he managed to tie the set 4-4 - in just his first break point. However, he could not hold it in the next game and Musetti took another break and then from his serve to take the set 6-4. Auger-Aliassime had to suffer 12 unforced errors and only 5 winners.
In the second set, things were reversed after the world No. 19 got a break in the beginning and took a 3-0 lead. Musetti dropped his serve, winning only 46% of the service points against 68% of Felix's service points. The Canadian, however, suffered every time he played with his second serve, as each of them ended in favor of his opponent.
In any case, Musetti did not manage to put Auger-Aliassime in trouble from the return. Felix took advantage in the 6th game of a new break opportunity and ended up closing the set with his serve comfortably by 6-1 after 40 minutes. Auger-Aliassime's serve allowed few rallies, he got 5 winners and did not commit double faults.
Everything was defined in a tight third set, in which both players served well. During the first games, again there were few rallies due to the imposing serve of both players, although the Canadian managed to win the service games more easily.
As the match progressed, the tension increased and Auger-Aliassime struggled with his first serve, as well as committing several unforced errors. In the 8th game, Musetti showed more mental strength and got the definitive break that would give him the victory. The Italian closed the match with his serve by 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 to give the bronze to his country.
Paris 1924: Uberto de Morpurgo 🥉 Paris 2024: Lorenzo Musetti 🥉 100 years of Italian history at the #Olympics 🇮🇹 #Paris2024 #tennis