“They managed the pressure better than me”: Lorenzo Musetti reflects on keeping pace with Alcaraz, Rune, and Sinner

Lorenzo Musetti took a step forward on the Tour last year, and this Monday achieved a special milestone after a consistent season: entering the top-5 for the first time in his career. The Italian fell short in the Hong Kong Open final against Alexander Bublik last Sunday but earned enough points to consolidate his position as world No. 5.

In a recent interview with The Tennis Insider Club—the podcast hosted by former WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia and her husband Borja Duran—Musetti spoke about the pressure he faced from an early age and the years it took to consolidate his game with greater regularity, maintaining a high level throughout the season.

Musetti, now 23, was identified early on as one of the Tour’s rising stars, alongside Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, a generation that carried enormous expectations from their first appearances. “Many people were having expectations for me, Holger (Rune), Jannik (Sinner) and Carlos (Alcaraz), and that we were like the ones to dethrone Medvedev and still the Big Three, of course,” he said. “So we had a lot of pressure since the beginning. They managed the pressure and ambitions better than me.”

However, Musetti’s path to consolidation was longer. Back in 2022, he won his first two ATP titles: the ATP 250 Napoli Cup over Matteo Berrettini and the ATP 500 Hamburg Open over Carlos Alcaraz, which allowed him to jump from outside the top-80 into the top-25 at just 20 years old.

Still, it took him a couple of seasons to get fully in shape to climb higher, and it wasn’t until the 2025 clay swing that he found the consistency that had eluded him in previous years. “That’s why I’m still working today. When you become top ten, maintaining consistency in results—not just playing well—is crucial. Over the years, I’ve lost many matches I felt I could win, and that regret drives me to keep improving every day.”

Musetti had a remarkable 2025, reaching the Monte Carlo Masters final and two other ATP 250 finals, as well as semifinals at events like the Madrid and Rome Masters and Roland Garros. However, the Italian has not added to his 2022 titles since then, losing up to seven finals in a row—including three in 2025 and another last weekend in Hong Kong.

“Consistency is the only key to maintaining a top-10 ranking,” he said. “With my style of play, which is creative and sometimes unpredictable, finding balance between creativity and discipline is essential. Experience, losses, and learning from each match are what help me stay at this level.”

Musetti has also reached high levels while representing Italy in team competitions like the Davis Cup and Summer Olympics. He was part of Italy’s winning Davis Cup teams in 2023 and 2024, and at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, he won the bronze medal, defeating Félix Auger-Aliassime in the third-place match.

“When you wear the Italian jersey, your country’s colors, it gives you a special energy that’s hard to describe,” he stated. “At the Olympics and other competitions, that pride fueled me, even when I was exhausted or jet-lagged. It’s something that makes me feel alive and motivated.”

At just 23, Musetti already has two children: Ludovic, born in March 2024, and Leandro, born a few months ago in November 2025. “We were looking for a third one, but he didn’t come,” Musetti said with a laugh, acknowledging that being a father has given him a new perspective.

“Being a tennis player is very focused. Having a newborn is different, even if you’re not alone. Becoming a father at 22—honestly, we didn’t try for a child; it just came. I took the decision because Veronica was accommodating and happy to create a family."

"It changes your relationship—a step forward, even more than becoming husband and wife. Having a child helps you handle tennis too. It gave me responsibility—on and off the court. It forced me to grow as a man, to make decisions, and deal with everything this sport and life give you.”