Lorenzo Musetti Defeats Stan Wawrinka in Athens
Lorenzo Musetti kept alive his hopes of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals with a hard-fought victory over Stan Wawrinka in Athens. The Italian, 23, faced elimination but rose to the challenge and continued his pursuit of a Turin debut.
As the second seed in the ATP 250 event, Musetti needs the tournament title to secure his spot at the season finale. His composure under pressure proved decisive.
"I think everybody knows what’s next in my mind, it’s not easy to play with that in my mind," said Musetti after the match. "But of course, if I want to qualify for Turin, I have to lift the trophy here."
In a duel between two elegant one-handed backhands, Musetti found himself two points from defeat at 4–5 in the second-set tie-break. Yet, a pair of unforced errors from Wawrinka turned the momentum. Musetti capitalized with a powerful forehand to claim the set before taking control in the decider.
During the final set, the Italian attacked with freedom, frequently entering the court and pushing the 40-year-old Swiss to his physical limits in a two-hour, 25-minute contest.
"He was not struggling physically at his age, so hopefully when I’m 40, I will do the same," Musetti said with a laugh. "A big effort from Stan, and I’m really happy with the win."
"Thanks for sharing the court, Stan—you’ve been an inspiration since I was a kid. I had to raise my level to win this match, especially in the third set."
Next up for Musetti is fifth-seeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
Author’s summary:
Musetti’s comeback against Wawrinka keeps his Turin hopes alive, showcasing resilience, maturity, and brilliant shot-making in Athens.