On the second day of the Italian Open headlines was stolen by an 18-year-old who is yet to break into the world’s top 200.
Lorenzo Musetti stunned three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka 6-0, 7-6(2), with an emphatic display that saw him fire five aces and break the Swiss player four times in a row. Becoming only the third player to have begalled Wawrinka in the first set of a match in his career. Musetti, who came through three rounds of qualifying in Rome, is the first player born in 2002 to win a main draw match on the ATP Tour.
“I didn’t expect this win but I think I deserved it because I played really good tennis and enjoyed all the points of the match,” he said.
“When I was young I used to come (to the Italian Open) and see champions like Rafa, Federer and Wawrinka with my family and friends.’
“It’s a dream come true and I still can’t believe what I did.”
The teenager is starting to come of age following a successful junior career where he reached No.1 in the world. Last year at the Australian Open Musetti became the first Italian – male or female – to win the junior title. He has also previously had hitting sessions with the likes of Roger Federer, Daniil Medvedev and Novak Dokovic.
Reflecting on his milestone win, the world No.249 says he is living in the moment and not focusing too much on the records.
“I didn’t think about it. I just enjoyed the match and had a lot of fun. I hope to trust the process of my career and try to play better points every day. That is my goal at the moment,” Musetti said.
“I don’t know why but I was calm before this match and I think this was the key to my victory.”
“I think I just managed my weapons the best. The first set was almost perfect and the second he tried to play better. But I served really good and mixed it a lot so I think this was the key to having the lead,” he added.
The significance of Muetti’s latest win means that he is set to rocket up the rankings by over 40 places to just outside the top 200. He is one of only two players aged 18 or under to be currently ranked in the world’s top 250. The other is Spanish 17-year-old Carlos Alcaraz who is currently rankled 186th.
The next test for the rising star will be a showdown against former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori on Wednesday.
“I have seen him play on television and I know he is a very tough player,” said Musetti of Nishikori.
“I’m going to enjoy the victory before I start thinking about my match against Nishikori.”
Musetti is the youngest player in this year’s draw and one of eight Italian men to have progressed to the second round.
