Novak Djokovic comes back from 2-4 down in the 2nd set and beats Lorenzo Musetti 7-5, 6-3 to reach the QFs in Monte-Carlo. Avenges last year’s defeat against same opponent in the same round. First time into the last 8 year since 2019.
Novak DJOKOVIC survives adversity in both sets to record victory over Lorenzo MUSETTI at Monte-Carlo Masters
ATPThursday, 11 April 2024 at 16:48
Last year at the Monte-Carlo Masters Lorenzo Musetti defeated Novak Djokovic to hand him his only defeat on their Head to Head resume which has seen some tricky tests in the past. But this time, the World No.1 ruled the roost in a 7-5, 6-3 win albeit with adversity in both sets for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Djokovic thumped Roman Safiullin in his opener ahead of the hotly anticipated rematch which Musetti called a 'lesson' no matter the outcome and it was a lesson of how a top player operates amid a tough battle. It also ends the hoodoo that Djokovic seems to have as of late against Italians. Jannik Sinner has made a habit of beating him and Luca Nardi did last time he played at Indian Wells.
Fears of that happening again would've been there with Musetti in sublime form early on as Djokovic was slow to get going. He went a break down straight away and Musetti went 4-2 up with a fairly dominant hold. But the pivotal moment came at 4-4 as despite going 40-15 up on Djokovic, he threw away a chance to go one away from the set and as the Serbian often does, he found a way. He broke to go 5-4 up and then broke again to seal the set.
It was the complete mirror image in the second set with Djokovic going 4-1 up after a smattering of breaks between the pair saw the World No.1 consolidate. He then though had to face immediate adversity as Musetti broke to make it 4-3 and seemed to be coming back into the tie. Or so he thought as Djokovic slammed the door shut and sealed it 6-3 with a pivotal break back to go one away. Next up for Djokovic will be Alex de Minaur who he lost to at the United Cup earlier this year so retribution could be served.
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