Lorenzo Musetti sends other positive signals from the ATP 250 tournament in Stuttgart. The blue, after the success on his debut against Mpetshi Perricard, obtained another victory on grass, also eliminating the host, Dominik Koepfer. However, the German puts a strain on Carrarino, who makes a comeback from a set down and after almost three hours of play snatches the pass to the quarter-finals, where a year ago he was stopped by Frances Tiafoe. 6-7 7-6 6-3 is the final result that rewards Musetti, who in the next round will challenge a big server, the Kazakh Alexander Bublikwho beat the Serbian rising star Hamad Medjedovic in two sets.
The match report
Musetti at ease on the Stuttgart grass, decides to exchange from the baseline; his opponent adopts the same strategy but can be more unpredictable. After an initial study phase, the two rivals hunt for a break. The Italian trembled in the fifth game but defended his turn of serve, then in the sixth game Koepfer gave the first chance to Lorenzo, but saved himself by holding on to the first serve. The n.30 is more incisive in response and gains a set point at 5-4. The German seems to be on the ropes then finds a new escape route. The same situation is repeated even in the eleventh game, even this time there are two set points for Musetti. Koepfer does not give up, and courageously takes the first set to a tie-break. The struggle continues. Musetti takes the first shot but gives back the mini-break lead with a double fault. The Carrarino has two set points (on Koepfer’s serve), the host instead has 3, and at 10-9 he scores the third. A legal error by Lorenzo was decisive.
The second set opens with a thrill for Musetti. Down 15-40 in the second game, the Italian overpowers Koepfer in the exchanges and avoids the break. At this moment something changes in Lorenzo’s game: less passive and less monotonous, he implements variations that annoy the German. However, there will be no breaks on one side or the other in this partial. So, another tiebreaker. Here, however, the service shifts are shaky, especially those of the world no.30. The German has the chance to take the lead at 6-3 and secure a triple match point. He doesn’t exploit it, Musetti in the most extreme difficulty shoots up and scores 4 consecutive points. 7-5, he goes to the third and decisive set.
The worst seems to be over for the Italian, who is increasingly venomous in the host’s turns and breaks Koepfer’s serve in the third game. However, when it’s time to make the escape, Musetti’s serving percentages drop, and he suffers an immediate counterbreak from the number 65 in the ranking, who doesn’t stop believing in it. Excited ending. Koepfer wastes two break points in the seventh game, Musetti instead leaves him scoreless in the following round. With a super backhand return he goes on to serve for the match and closes after 2 hours and 49 minutes of tension.
Musetti can smile: “One of the best matches of my career”
