Lorenzo Musetti makes his Wimbledon semi-debut, defeating Taylor Fritz
ATPWednesday, 10 July 2024 at 19:59
Lorenzo Musetti (No. 25) continues his dream run after
defeating Taylor Fritz (No. 12) 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to advance to the
Wimbledon semifinals for the first time in his career. The 21-year-old player
is the absolute surprise among the last four standing and will challenge 7-time
champion Novak Djokovic for a spot in the final.
He has won 12 of his last 14 matches on the surface and
becomes the fourth Italian to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, following Nicola
Pietrangelli, Matteo Berrettini, and Jannik Sinner. For now, he moves up to
world No. 16.
Musetti stuns Fritz in Five Sets
In the first set, neither player reached 60% on their first
serve, although Fritz had the edge, winning 81% of his. Both had opportunities
throughout the set, with Musetti having a couple of break points early on but
unable to capitalize. In contrast, the American broke on his first opportunity
in the fourth game and then went ahead 4-1.
There were no further surprises, as Fritz faced no issues
with his serve for the rest of the set, closing it out 6-3. Up to that point,
nerves were evident in both players, with abundant unforced errors (13 for
Musetti and 11 for Fritz) and only four winners each.
The second set began with traded breaks: Fritz took the
lead but couldn’t hold it as Musetti took advantage of his first opportunity.
The Italian broke again in the eighth game, going up 5-3 with a chance to close
the set on his serve. However, Fritz immediately broke back, leveling the
score. The set went to a tiebreak, where a single mini-break for Musetti was
enough to take it 7-6(5).
Taylor Fritz at 2023 Wimbledon.
The third set was easier for Musetti. He found an effective
86% of points won on his first serve, compared to Fritz’s mere 25%. He
capitalized on Fritz’s drop in level, with the American committing 16 unforced
errors in just eight games. Breaks in the first and fifth games secured the set
for Musetti, who won 64% of the points played, closing it out 6-2.
Musetti’s dominance was clear over the previous two sets,
but Fritz’s fighting spirit kept him in the match. He struggled to hold his
serve, saving several break points, and took advantage of one of his
opportunities in the eighth game to push it to a deciding set.
Unfortunately for Fritz, he couldn’t replicate his earlier
level, and Musetti brought his best for the fifth set. The Italian had 11
winners and 3 unforced errors compared to Fritz’s 3 winners and 7 unforced
errors. Musetti won 68% of the points played, including 80% of his service
points and 57% of his return points. He took advantage of the two opportunities
he had in the final set to break twice, ultimately delivering a resounding
finish against Fritz.
It was a disappointing end for Fritz, who had fought hard
but couldn’t maintain his level in the final stretch. The American No. 1
suffered a fall when Musetti had two match points and appeared to have knee
issues. After resuming Musetti’s service game, the Italian closed the victory
3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 to advance to the semifinals to face Djokovic.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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