Daijiworld Media Network - Melbourne
Melbourne, Jan 26: Italian star Lorenzo Musetti delivered a composed and commanding performance to defeat ninth-seeded American Taylor Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in the fourth round of the Australian Open, booking his place in the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time.
Musetti largely dictated play throughout the match, using a blend of variety, precision and calm shot-making to keep Fritz on the defensive. His serve proved to be a decisive weapon, as the Italian won 84 per cent of points on his first serve and an impressive 74 per cent on his second, firing down 13 aces in the process.
The 21-year-old seized control early by breaking Fritz in the opening set and closing it out comfortably. The second set offered more resistance, but Musetti elevated his game at key moments, converting crucial break points to edge it 7-5. Carrying that momentum into the third set, he maintained his focus and composure to seal the straight-sets victory without facing serious danger.
Reflecting on his performance, Musetti said his serving display was among the best of his career. “Today my serve was really working well. I think I made one of my best performances in aces so far, so I’m really happy,” he said. “My goal was to start this year strongly because I’d never gone past the first week here. Making the final in Hong Kong, winning doubles there, and now reaching the quarter-finals — it really feels like a dream.”
The win sends the fifth-seeded Italian into a blockbuster quarter-final against record 10-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, who advanced after Czech player Jakub Mensik withdrew due to an abdominal injury.
Speaking about the upcoming challenge, Musetti expressed admiration for the Serbian legend. “Every time I play Novak, it’s a lesson. It’s an honour to share the court with him,” he said. “I always take something away from those matches, and that helps me believe I can improve and try to beat him.”
Djokovic holds a dominant 9-1 lead over Musetti in their ATP Head2Head meetings and comes into the clash riding a six-match winning streak against the Italian. The Serbian recently reached several historic milestones, including his 100th Australian Open victory, becoming the first player to record 400 Grand Slam match wins, and surpassing Roger Federer for the most men’s quarter-final appearances in major tournaments.