Sebastian Baez upset Lorenzo Musetti 4-1 4-1 3-4 (5-7) 4-3 (7-5) after 1 hour and 39 minutes in his first tour level hard-court match to move to 1-0 in Group B.
Baez, who claimed five ATP Challenger Tour titles on clay, won 83% of his first serve points and broke three times.
At the start of the first set Musetti went down 15-40 on his first service game. Baez converted his second break point to take a 1-0 lead. Musetti saved two break points to hold serve on the deciding point in the third game for 1-2. Baez earned his second break in the fifth game to win the first set 4-1.
Baez held serve with a backhand before breaking serve on the deciding point in the fourth game to take the second set 4-1.
Musetti received a medical time-out to treat an abdominal problem at the start of the third set before coming back from 15-40 down at 1-1 to hold serve on the deciding point. Musetti opened up a 4-1 lead with a mini-break. Baez pulled back on serve to draw level to 4-4. Musetti earned a set point and sealed the tie-break with a backhand passing shot.
Musetti held serve with a forehand passing shot in the second game of the fourth set for 1-1. Both players went on serve en route to the tie-break. Baez went up a double mini-break to take a 3-0 lead with a backhand down the line. Musetti pulled back on serve to draw level to 4-4 as Baez hit his backhand into the net. Baez earned his third mini-break to close out the tie-break with a serve and volley on his first match point.
“I feel so good. It was a great match. It was a great match and I am happy to win as Lorenzo is a great player. He started to play better and the crowd began to support him. It is special for us when you are in your own country with the energy from the crowd. I tried to stay in the moment and think about the next point”, said Sebastian Baez.
