Musetti Keeps ATP Finals Hope Alive with Tight Victory
Lorenzo Musetti remains in contention for a spot at the year-end Nitto ATP Finals in Turin after a hard-fought win over Sebastian Korda in the Hellenic Championship semi-finals. Musetti secured the match with a 6-0, 5-7, 7-5 victory in a fluctuating battle.
The Italian must defeat Novak Djokovic in the final to qualify for Turin. Djokovic advanced to his 144th ATP Tour final by beating Yannick Hanfmann in the other semi-final.
Currently, Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime holds the eighth and final qualifying spot. Musetti could join him, Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Ben Shelton in the Bjorn Borg Group with a win against Djokovic.
"I think we both played a fantastic match," Musetti commented after his win against Korda. "The level was getting higher and the adrenaline was intense. I am super happy with the attitude I showed on court and the spirit I am trying to put in every day. Achieving the final here is really important and I am already focusing on tomorrow."
Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 8-1, but Musetti is motivated to improve on that statistic. The upcoming final in Athens will be Musetti’s chance to win his third ATP Tour title and his first since Naples in 2022.
Author's summary: Lorenzo Musetti holds a slim chance to qualify for the ATP Finals by facing Novak Djokovic in the Athens final after a resilient semi-final win, showcasing determination and high-level tennis.