Lorenzo Musetti made a winning debut in a Grand Slam tournament with a 6-0 7-5 7-6 (7-6) victory over 2016 quarter finalist David Goffin to reach the second round at Roland Garros.
Musetti broke serve six times and saved six of the eight break points he faced. The Italian Next Gen broke three times to win the first set 6-0. He saved a set point at 4-5 on serve before breaking serve in the 11th game to close out the second set 7-5.
Musetti went up a break in the third game to take a 2-1 lead in the decisive set. Goffin broke straight back in the 10th game to draw level to 5-5. Musetti earned his second break in the 11th game, but Goffin pulled back on serve at love. Musetti earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2.
“I think she is the proof that I have the level. Sometimes when I am not focused and not playing really good, of course my level is not like today. For sure I am playing better when I am without pressure because today, I was playing really relaxed. Of course, it was not easy to win even if I was relaxed. When you play against the world number 13 in the world, it’s not the same thing like playing someone worse than you in the rankings that you must beat”, said Musetti.
Musetti set up a second round match against Yoshihito Nishioka, who edged past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-4 6-2 3-6 7-6 (7-5). Nishioka beat Musetti 6-3 6-2 in their only previous head-to-head match in Parma last week.
Llyod Harris beat last week’s Lorenzo Sonego 7-5 6-4 6-4 to set up a second round match against Cameron Norrie. The winner of this match could potentially face 13-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal, who will take on Alexei Popyrin in the opening round.
Harris broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead, but Sonego broke straight back to draw level to 3-3. Harris earned his second break in the 11th game to win the first set 7-5.
Sonego saved a break point in the first game of the second set. Harris fended off two break points in the fourth game before breaking with an inside-in forehand to win the second set 6-4. Harris converted his second break point in the fifth game and held his serve to open up a 4-2 lead. Sonego saved four match points on serve in the ninth game, but Harris served out the win at love.
