Lorenzo Musetti is still dreaming of playing in the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin – and not as a substitute.
The Italian rallied from a set down to defeat Stan Wawrinka on Wednesday in Athens, surviving to earn a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory over the 40-year-old three-time Grand Slam champion.
“He wasn’t fighting physically (in the third set), hopefully when I’m 40 I’ll do the same,” said Musetti, who called him an “inspiration.”
“I had to step up to win this math, especially in the third set.”
This win puts Musetti three triumphs away from his target – he needs to walk away with the title in Athens in order to overtake Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Race to Turin standings.
Musetti will face fifth-placed Alexandre Muller of France in the quarterfinals. Muller defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry in a close battle on Wednesday, 6-7 (2) 7-6 (4) 7-6 (3).
“It’s not easy to play with him in my mind, but if of course if I want to qualify for the Masters, I have to lift this trophy here,” said Musetti, when asked what happens next.
The 23-year-old ninth-ranked Musetti held off Wawrinka from becoming the second-oldest player ever to record a top 10 win in the last two sets. Wawrinka was also bidding to become the oldest ATP quarter-finalist since Ken Rosewall in 1978.
The Swiss fired 36 winners (back nine) and 22 aces but could not stop the Italian in the high-quality two hour and 22 minute match. Musetti improves to 1-1 lifetime against the Swiss legend, having lost to Wawrinka in Rome in 2020.
If Musetti can get past Muller, he will face either Sebastian Korda or Miomir Kecmanovic in the semi-finals.
Novak Djokovic, the first seed, looms as a possible final opponent. The Serbian legend faced the sixth seed Nuno Norges tomorrow in the quarterfinals.
