Musetti knocks out Fritz to reach first Australian Open quarter-final
Musetti concludes Fritz 6-2, 7-5, 6-4
Fritz was hoping to make the quarter for the second time (2024) in his remarkable career. He achieved a career high rank of #4 in the fall of 2024 but currently ranked #9. With ten career titles, he reached his only Grand Slam final 2024 US Open (l. Sinner).
The 28-year-old from California dropped a set in the first round as well as the previous round in a memorable victory over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka, who will retire at the end of the season.
His opponent in the fourth round, Lorenzo Musetti of Italy, has not won a title since 2022 Tour of Naples. Despite this great drought, 23-year-old reached three finals last season and, for the first time, qualified for Nitto ATP the finals. As a result, he currently ranks at a career high of #5. Last year in Melbourne, he lost in the third round in a tight four-setter to American Ben Shelton.
Level in 3-3 head-to-head, Fritz had dominated both hard-court matches, most recently a straight-sets victory in the round-robin 2025 Nitto ATP the finals.
Musetti won the toss and elected to take over. With the roof open at Rod Laver Arena, Fritz lost 3/4 first serves but with an ace out held for love as Musetti served a double fault, faced deuce and break point but held level.
With the Italian well positioned behind the baseline, Fritz served up three straight errors on the first set, faced two deuces and three break points, but held on with an ace on the ball and a misfire from Musetti.
of 5The second seed hit three winners, including two aces and a forehand inside game point, as Fritz made three straight errors and dropped serve. Musetti, making excellent use of the “backhand”, wanted to consolidate the break for 4-2 while Fritz missed four straight first serves, served up three extra errors and dropped serve. The young Italian server opened with an ace on the tee and secured the set 6-2 with an incredible inside-the-forehand winner.
Fritz served first in the second and easily held 15 while Musetti liked to equalize. The American hit three winners in a row, including his third ace, and held for it 2-1 with a fantastic forehand down the line.
Musetti wowed the crowd with another assist and a dashing pass at the line, but with the second double fault, he faced a break point. He managed to hold on 2-2 with a winning forehand and an error from Fritz.
As the unforced errors continued to mount, the American switched gears with a winning serve and volley, and despite facing a break point and deuce, he held for 3-2. During the changeover, with his stomach now attached, Fritz was evaluated by doctors.
the world #5 opened the sixth with his fifth ace and a brilliant forehand on level three. Fritz hit two winners, including his fourth ace on game point for a love hold, while Musetti hit two winners, including his sixth ace, and held for 4-4.
The young-serving American hit two winners in a row, including an ace off the square, and held 30 for the lead while Musetti, serving to hold the set, reeled off three winners in a row and held at love for 5-5.
While Fritz remained frustrated and nervous, Musetti, with stellar defense and spectacular groundstrokes on the breakaway, reached triple break point and converted with a tremendous backhand cross. With two straight aces in the middle, Musetti consolidated the break at love to close out the set 7-5.
While Fritz was constantly outgunned and outmaneuvered, he refused to capitulate. He served first in the third and although he hit his sixth ace, he faced triple break point and dropped serve with three additional unforced errors.
Musetti deftly weaved high and low balls, chopped and spun to repeatedly confuse his opponent and with his ninth ace consolidated the break for 2-0. Fritz served another double fault, but with three straight winners, including two more aces, held for 1-2.
Musetti, with poise and precision, hit a wonderful short inside-outside into the box and his tenth ace for 3-1. Fritz did 3/5 serves first, including an ace to the tee, and holds easily 15 ABOUT 2-3. Musetti, serving with new balls, maintained an extremely high level with a winning serve and volley and his eleventh ace.
the world #9 opened the seventh with three straight winners, including his tenth ace, and held to love 3-4 while Musetti hit two straight winners, including another ace, to take the lead 5-3.
Fritz, serving to stay in the match, did 6/8 serves early, faced deuce still held for 4-5 as Musetti had overcooked the return. The Italian, serving for the match and a coveted spot in the last eight, opened with an ace and secured victory with a winning forehand drop volley and an unreturnable dropshot.
It was an astonishing display of craft, patience and variety. With his second win over a top-ten player at a Grand Slam, he is a quarter-finalist for the first time down.
Musetti finished with thirteen aces, two double faults and earned a surprising victory 84First % and 69% of second serve points. He was just as effective when he returned, winning 36First % and 44% of second serve points. He hit 33 the winners of 24 unforced and stored errors 2/2 breakpoints during conversion 4/9.
The Italian has twice reached the penultimate round at Grand Slam level – Wimbledon 2024 and Roland Garros 2025 . With the level he displayed in this demolition of a quality opponent in straight sets, could this be the year he lifts his first Grand Slam trophy?
On his way to another semi-final is ten-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. The thirty-eight-year-old Serbian, with a surprising 24 grand slam titles, suffered a last-round exit from Jakob Mensik and won the previous three in straight sets. Will he be able to withstand the variety that Musetti possesses, especially if he goes the distance?
Although ex #1 leads head to head 8-1including a three-set win last fall in the Helen Championship final, they haven’t met in a slam since Wimbledon 2024. Musetti, fifteen years younger, looks poised to ride this wave into the final four. With age and considerable crowd support on his side, look for the Italian to pick up his second win over the legendary elder statesman.
