Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti stunned defending champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals of the Olympic tennis tournament on Thursday, securing a 7-5, 7-5 victory over the German world number four. Musetti’s triumph sets up a tantalizing semifinal clash against either top seed Novak Djokovic or Stefanos Tsitsipas, with a place in the gold medal match on the line.
Musetti, ranked 76th in the world, displayed remarkable composure and resilience throughout the match. He broke Zverev’s serve in the opening game of the first set and held on to his advantage, despite facing some stern challenges from the German. Zverev fought back in the second set, breaking Musetti’s serve in the fourth game. However, Musetti remained unfazed and broke back immediately, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
In the crucial moments, Musetti’s superior court coverage and ability to hit deep, penetrating groundstrokes proved decisive. He forced Zverev into numerous errors and capitalized on the German’s uncharacteristic unforced mistakes. Musetti sealed the victory with a powerful forehand winner, sending shockwaves through the Ariake Tennis Park.
Musetti’s victory marks a significant upset in the Olympic tennis tournament. Zverev, who won the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was considered one of the favorites to repeat his success. However, Musetti’s impressive performance has thrown the tournament wide open and has given him a chance to create history for Italy.
The 19-year-old Italian has been in impressive form throughout the tournament, having defeated world number 12 Diego Schwartzman in the second round. His victory over Zverev is a testament to his growing maturity and confidence on the big stage. Musetti will now face an even greater challenge in the semifinals, but he will be buoyed by his recent success and the support of the Italian fans.
