Lorenzo Musetti beat Australian Jordan Thompson 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and eighteen minutes to reach the final at Queens for the first time – and now plays Tommy Paul who beat compatriot Sebastian Korda 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) and has the chance to be American number one with victory tomorrow.
In a great match for the spectators with contrasting styles and shot selection, the Italian played better in the key moments in the third set while Thompson was hampered by a back injury throughout, although seemed to be moving well.
“[That was] one of the toughest matches this week,” said Musetti, who fell to the floor after his victory. “Jordan was playing an amazing level, especially the second and third sets. It was a really tough game at 4-3 when I played some amazing shots which gave me the break, and I didn’t shake even under pressure and it was a key moment for me. I’m really proud of what I am achieving this week.”
Thompson had a slow start; his serve was not firing and he was broken in his first service game and was quickly 3-0 down. Musetti played some excellent points, covering all parts of the court showing deft touches at the net as well as depth and power off both wings from the baseline.
Though he won the set convincingly, Thompson refocussed immediately at the start of the second and broke serve straight away when Musetti’s backhand slice sailed wide. He served far better throughout getting far more free points, and levelled the match at a set-all.
However, the key to the match was the game with Thompson serving with new balls at 3-4 down in the third set. Serving wide proved unwise as he was picked off twice by Musetti; first a sliced return down to Thompson’s feet as he was coming in, and then a crunching forehand winner put him 15-30 down.
Later in the game, a beautiful backhand half-volley lob gave Musetti a first breakpoint of the set but he was unable to take it, and moments later he missed another when he chased down a dropshot but the net cord took his forehand wide. He missed a third breakpoint after a solid rally from Thompson, but the pressure finally told when Musetti took his fourth chance when Thompson’s backhand drop volley landed fractionally out. The hawk-eye replay showed just how close it was and Musetti was now just a game away.
Musetti was gifted the first point of the final game with a poor drop shot from Thompson, but followed it up with a well-constructed rally finishing off with a forehand volley into the open court. A half-volley approach shot drew another error from his opponent bringing him match point and a service winner meant he won the game to love and reach an ATP Final for the first time in two years.
Explaining his tattoos after his win, he said: “I love this sport, I’m really passionate about tennis since I was a kid,” “I dreamt to be a tennis player and become number one in the world, and I have another tattoo which says ‘family’ so having a team which is a family. I really care about people, and I am surrounded by people that love me. This win is for them.”
Musetti’s previous two ATP finals brought him success on the hard courts and the clay courts. Could he complete the hattrick of surfaces on the tour? “Absolutely, it would be super nice, said Musetti. “Of course, here in Queens with so much history when you walk on court, when you see this beautiful showcase. And there are a lot of Italians here in London and I want to thank them, I really feel like at home. Tomorrow is my last step, so I want you to come and support me again, see you tomorrow!”
In the title match, he plays American Tommy Paul who beat an aching Sebastian Korda in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) to reach his second grass court final after Eastbourne last year.
Serving at 4-5 down, Korda threw in two errors to go 0-30 down, and then fell on his ankle sliding at the back of the court chasing a wide forehand. He lost concentration and soon lost the set, before calling the trainer in the changeover where he also applied ice to his left eye.
Korda, who received a warning after snapping his racket over his knee in the first set, looked sluggish in the second set and seemed as if a succession of injuries may be catching up on him – some time off may well be good for him now before Wimbledon next week.
“I’m happy with how I’m playing,” said Paul afterwards. “I feel like every time I step on the grass, I’m learning something and I’m getting a little better. Hopefully tomorrow [will also] be a little better.”
Paul played solidly all round and only faltered when serving for the match when 5-3 ahead in the second set, and was broken after a bad bounce to give Korda a lifeline. Games went with serve into the tie-break where Korda double faulted at 1-1, and then followed up with three lethargic baseline errors to swap ends at 5-1 down. Yet another error gave Paul five match points and he took his second one with an ace down the middle to take revenge for last week when he lost to Korda in the quarter finals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.
“It was no secret between the two of us, we wanted to play offense, so I feel like I did a pretty good job there at the end,” explained Paul. “When I was serving for it, he played an awesome game and got the break there and put a lot of pressure on me, so I was happy to get through that.”
