Lorenzo Musetti fights Adrian Mannarino, advances to Chengdu SFs | ATP Tour
Matching Report
Musetti fights Mannarino, advances to Chengdu SFs
The worthy Kachmazov annoys Jarry
September 22, 2024
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(File Photo) Lorenzo Musetti reached the semifinals in Chengdu last year.
Written by Krishna Gowda
Can Lorenzo Musetti make a late surge in Nitto ATP Finals debut?
Top seed Musetti defeated Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 on Sunday to advance to the semifinals of the Chengdu Open.
The Italian, who reached the semi-finals last year in Chengdu, hit 23 winners to take his Lexus ATP Head2Head record by beating the Frenchman 1-1. The number 19 in the PIF ATP Rankings also saved three of four break points against him to seal the match in two hours, 16 minutes.
The 22-year-old Musetti recorded his best 35th win of the season. The Italian is 15th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, but has moved 915 points clear of eighth-placed Alex de Minaur following his Mannarino win. Musetti has now reached six semifinals in his last eight tour-level appearances.
2023 – SF
2024 – SF(1) @Lorenzo1Musetti returns to Last 4 in Chengdu 6-2 5-7 6-2@ChengduOpen | #ChengduOpen pic.twitter.com/zXBtjkztj2
– ATP Tour (@atptour) September 22, 2024
“I think today was a very good game for both players, he [Mannarino] he raised his level in the second set and he was starting to work better and give me less opportunities to stroke him forward,” said Musetti in his interview after the match. “So I had to focus on each point to make it 2-2 again [in the final set] when I took a break, that was a pivotal moment that might have changed the game. ”
Musetti will next face Alibek Kachmazov in the semi-finals.
Kachmazov upset third seed Nicolas Jarry 6-3, 6-4 to record the biggest win of his career and advance to his first Tour-level semi-final.
The number 252 in the PIF ATP Rankings lost just one point in performance in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats. He ranks as the lowest ranked semifinalist in tournament history.
“I’m playing very well, I’m strong this week. So I hope I can continue in this way,” said Kachmazov after the match. “Today was a little better, it was a little easier to play long rallies and a good day again.
“It’s been an amazing week here for me but I hope I won’t stop and not think too much about it, and keep playing”.
