Lorenzo Musetti’s late-night Lyon Open match creates an unusual anti-doping scheduling dilemma

Saturday, 24 October 2026 at 08:30

Lorenzo Musetti walks back to the baseline.

Lorenzo Musetti’s quarterfinal at the Lyon Open lasted so long that the Italian found himself dealing with a rather unusual problem after midnight: an anti-doping alarm set for 1am was about to go off while he was still on court.

The sixth seed had been locked in a three-hour-and-34-minute battle against Luca Van Assche, with the match finally finishing past 1am. Neither player could have imagined that their quarterfinal would stretch so deep into the night, but the slow indoor hard courts in Lyon contributed to an exhausting contest that kept both men on court for hours.

With the match running beyond the time he had anticipated, Musetti turned to ATP supervisor Rogério Santos in connection with the alarm on his own phone. The Italian explained the reason behind the reminder, creating an unusual moment during a match that had already become an endurance test. “I have my anti-doping alarm set for 1am.”

The remark offered a glimpse into one of the less visible aspects of life on the professional tour. Players must remain available for potential anti-doping controls, and the alarm was a practical reminder connected to those obligations. On this occasion, however, the schedule had a different idea.

Musetti survives a three-hour marathon in Lyon

The unusual moment came after a demanding encounter in which neither player gave the other much room to breathe. Van Assche finished with 50 winners, just one more than Musetti’s 49, underlining how closely contested the match was.

The first set alone lasted around an hour and 10 minutes, while the second took approximately an hour and 31 minutes. The slow court conditions encouraged longer exchanges, making it difficult for either player to take control and finish points quickly.

Lorenzo Musetti looks at the ball as he prepares to serve at the Austrian Open

Musetti eventually came through after three hours and 34 minutes, recovering from a difficult start to the deciding set. After falling 0-2 behind, the Italian turned the score around and went on to win the third set 6-4, completing a hard-fought comeback to reach the semifinals.

It was an important victory for the sixth seed, who had to withstand Van Assche’s resistance and maintain his concentration deep into the early hours. The Frenchman had matched him almost winner for winner, but Musetti found a way to prevail when the match reached its decisive moments.

Musetti asks ATP Supervisor Rogério Santos to use his phone... for a reason. "I have my antidoping alarm set for 1am." They never imagined they would be on court at this time of the night/morning.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) October 23, 2026

An all-Italian semifinal awaits Musetti

The reward for Musetti’s late-night effort is an all-Italian semifinal against top seed Flavio Cobolli. The matchup gives him a chance to reach the final of the ATP 250 event, although the short turnaround after such a lengthy quarterfinal could make recovery particularly important.

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There is also a broader storyline behind Musetti’s pursuit of the title. The Italian has lost seven consecutive finals and has not won a trophy since lifting the Tennis Napoli Cup in October 2022. Reaching another final in Lyon would give him an opportunity to move closer to ending that drought.

First, though, Musetti must recover from a match that continued well past the hour when he had expected to be off court. His alarm was set for 1am, but his quarterfinal against Van Assche had other plans.

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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