Italian Next Gen player Lorenzo Musetti cruised past Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-2 in 77 minutes to reach the semifinals at the UniCredit Firenze Open in Florence.
Musetti hit 23 winners to score his 26th match win of the season.
Musetti went up a double break to take a 4-0 lead. McDonald pulled one break back in the fifth game. Musetti saved two break points in the seventh game and served out the opening set at love.
Both players saved two break points in the second and third games of the second set. Musetti broke twice in in the seventh and ninth games to seal the second se 6-2.
“It was a really good start, but he came back and was very good, but I had to defend some break points, but I think I won the match because I played really well in the important situations. I always used my serve and I am confident as I am playing really good. I am looking forward to the semis. It is pretty special here. I can hear the crowd. It is really noisy and really Italian. I am taking all the energy the crowd is giving me”, said Musetti.
Musetti set up a semifinal against Felix Auger Aliassime, who has boosted his chance to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals with a 6-3 6-2 win over US Next Gen player Brandon Nakashima.
Auger Aliassime fired 23 winners and won 90% of his first serve points. The Canadian player has reached his fifth ATP semifinal of the season after his 42ndtour-level win of the season.
Nakashima started the match with an early break at deuce. Auger Aliassime broke back in the second game to draw level to 1-1.
Auger Aliassime broke for the second time in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and held his final two service games to close out the first set 6-3. Auger Aliassime won the second set with his only break at love in the first game.
“I am very pleased with my level. It was a great two sets of tennis. I think I served well. I could have been better on the second serve, he was serving a lot of points. I had to stay very focused until the end because you never know, matches can change quickly”, said Auger Aliassime.
Mikael Ymer beat Roberto Carballes Baena 6-4 6-2 to advance to the semifinal at UniCredit Firenze Open at the Pala Wanny in Florence.
Ymer earned an early break in the second game. Carballes Baena broke straight back in the third game to draw level to draw level to 2-2. The Swedish player of Ethiopian origin won four of his five next games with two breaks of serve. Ymer earned two breaks in the second and eighth games to seal the second set 6-2.
