Blurb:
Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti defeated Taylor Fritz in straight sets to reach his first Australian Open quarterfinal, setting up a blockbuster clash.
Melbourne
Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti produced a masterful performance at Australian Open, defeating American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 at Rod Laver Arena to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in his career. The victory sets up a highly anticipated quarterfinal showdown against 10-time champion Novak Djokovic.
Musetti, who had endured a gruelling five-set battle against Tomas Machac in the previous round, showed no signs of fatigue as he dismantled Fritz with a blend of power, precision and flair. The Italian broke Fritz’s powerful serve twice in the opening set, racing to a 6-2 lead and immediately putting the American under pressure.
In the second set, Fritz attempted to mount a comeback, using his big serve and forehand to stay competitive. However, Musetti raised his level at the crucial moments, showcasing his trademark artistry and shot variation. He won three consecutive games late in the set to clinch it 7-5, demonstrating his growing mental toughness on the big stage.
The momentum carried into the third set, where Musetti secured an early break to keep Fritz on the back foot. Despite the American’s efforts to fight back, Musetti maintained control, mixing aggressive forehands with delicate drop shots and defensive brilliance. He closed out the match 6-4 with composed serving and intelligent point construction, sealing one of the biggest wins of his career.
Reflecting on the victory, Musetti said he was proud of his performance and acknowledged his rivalry with Fritz. Honestly, I feel very proud. I know Taylor very well, we’ve played many matches, many battles. And last time in Turin he was the winner, he said, referring to their meeting at the ATP Finals last year.
I came here with a different mentality and I think I made one of my best performances. I improved a lot on serve and especially being a little bit more aggressive with the forehand and trying to use my variations, Musetti added.
The win marks a major milestone for the 21-year-old Italian, who has long been regarded as one of the most stylish players on tour but has struggled for consistency at Grand Slams. His improved serving and more assertive baseline play suggest a maturation in his game. Musetti now faces an enormous challenge against Djokovic, who has dominated the Australian Open for more than a decade.
