Lorenzo Musetti, 20, admitted that his level against Novak Djokovic wasn’t very good and also revealed that there were probably “too many expectations” about his Paris Masters quarterfinal meeting with the Serb.
Musetti, who is enjoying a career-high ranking of No 23 in the world, has played some good tennis lately and he was certainly confident in his chances going into the Djokovic match. In the end, Musetti didn’t come even near beating Djokovic as the Serb ousted the Italian 6-0 6-3.
“There were perhaps too many expectations about this match and I couldn’t manage them. Honestly the way I played today I wouldn’t have won with Ruud, Cilic and Basilashvili. Then maybe even playing my best tennis I would have taken 6-0 6-3 tonight from Nole,” Musetti said, per Mario Boccardi.
Lorenzo Musetti: “There were perhaps too many expectations about this match and I couldn’t manage them. Honestly the way I played today I wouldn’t have won with Ruud, Cilic and Basilashvili. Then maybe even playing my best tennis I would have taken 6-0 6-3 tonight from Nole.”
pic.twitter.com/gExaylJTEW — Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) November 5, 2022
Musetti won a total of three games against Djokovic
Djokovic came out firing against Musetti as he bagelled the Italian in the first set.
In the first set, Musetti didn’t have any game or break points as it was a total dominance by Djokovic. After easily losing the first set, Musetti served out the second game of the second set and also broke Djokovic in the third game to open a 2-1 lead.
Just when it seemed Musetti could do something, he got broken in back-to-back games as Djokovic won four games in a row to recover from an early break and to take a 5-2 lead in the second set. In the ninth game, Djokovic routinely served out for the match as he realized his first match point.
After the match, Musetti suggested he may decide to skip next week’s Next Gen ATP Finals. “At the moment they are scheduled. I’ll decide in the next days. I’ve sometimes played six weeks in a row this season, I have to consider also the Davis Cup.
On one hand I want to play, on the other I need some rest,” Musetti said.
Lorenzo Musetti not sure to play the Next Gen Finals in Milan
“At the moment they are scheduled. I’ll decide in the next days. I’ve sometimes played six weeks in a row this season, I have to consider also the Davis Cup.
On one hand I want to play, on the other I need some rest” pic.twitter.com/lHJ7CxVEnu — Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) November 5, 2022
