Monte Carlo
Mussetti sets up a rematch with Djokovic after stopping Phils
Monfils, Zverev also advance
09 April 2024
Lorenzo Musetti defeats Arthur Fils after serving for the third time in the match.
By ATP staff
Lorenzo Musetti produced a heavy performance on Tuesday to see off French #NextGenATP Arthur Fils 6-3, 7-5 at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, where the Italian will next look to relive his stunning 2023 upset against the top Novak Djokovic.
Musetti bruised the ball from the baseline with a sharp turn and stunning shot as he dealt with a late attack from the 19-year-old. Despite serving for the match at 5-2 and again at 5-4, Musetti won just one point in both service games. But the two-time tour-level champion remained focused, eventually finding more first serves to close out the one-hour-and-40-minute match at his third attempt.
“I think I played probably one of the best matches of the season and that’s why I was the leader [the match]Musetti said. “I ended up rushing a little or playing a little, shall we say, softer.”
At No. 24 in the PIF ATP rankings, Musetti on Thursday will meet World No. 1 Djokovic for the fifth time (1-3). Musetti last year beat the two-time tournament champion in the same round 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
“It’s kind of fun because it’s exactly the same year, same tournament, same round and same position,” said Musetti, who on Sunday secured his 100th tour-level match win. He will then aim for the second quarter-final in 2024 and as many more in the Principality.
In other action on Tuesday, Gael Monfils needed a late comeback to escape lucky Australian loser Aleksandar Vukic 6-7(7), 6-3, 7-5. The French wild card trailed 1-4 in the deciding set before reeling off four straight games and finally closing out the match with a backhand winner to the delight of the crowd.
Monfils hit 47 winners to face fourth-seeded Daniil Medvedev, who he leads 2-1 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head series. After falling to Medvedev in their first meeting, Monfils has won her last two matches (2019 Rotterdam, 2022 Indian Wells). Wednesday will mark their first meeting on clay.
Fifth seed Alexander Zverev cruised past Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 after winning 79 percent of his first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats. The German, who has reached the semi-finals of Monte Carlo twice, awaits 12th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the round of 16.
