Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti defeated world number six Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4 to win his maiden ATP Tour title in Hamburg. The 20-year-old saw five match points come and go in the second set and eventually won 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4.
Musetti said in his on-court interview, “I have no words because it was a roller-coaster until the end. I had so many match points. Carlos was very good at match points, (I had) so many chances.” Were.”
“But I think the key to the match was to stay calm and [have] all patience [with] Me because it really wasn’t easy. Carlos was putting so much effort into match points when he was down, so finding the energy to come back was not easy. But I can’t describe what I’m feeling at the moment. I guess I’m still dreaming.”
“Of course I was really upset, but I tried not to show my reaction to my opponent. I tried to forgive all match points and all points (to myself). [when] I couldn’t do that,” the ATP Tour website quoted Musetti as saying.
“I think that was the most (important) thing for me too, because I didn’t expect to win after this roller-coaster, so I’m very happy to be here and be the champion.”
On Monday, Alcaraz, the youngest player to break into the world’s top five since Rafael Nadal in 2005, missed out on a sixth ATP title as he lost in the final for the first time. This was the first ATP head-to-head clash between Musetti and Alcaraz. The Italian will climb to a career-high world number 31 on Monday.
It was clear from the start of the match that Musetti was going to throw all his skills at the Spaniard. He played aggressively from the baseline, went into the net when given the opportunity and kept the five-time ATP Tour titleist off balance with plenty of variation in spin and pace.
Alcaraz was not at his best in the championship clash, making uncanny errors, but that was partly because his opponent guessed at him and was unable to find the rhythm.
Musetti earned the crucial break of the first set 3-3, leading 4-3 when Alcaraz missed a backhand in the net. The Italian then closed the opener with a forehand approach winner and showed laser focus in his calm response to his team.
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— the ending —