Lorenzo Musetti came back from one set down to beat Alexander Zverev 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 in 2 hours and 36 minutes booking his spot for the semifinal at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna. Musetti beat Zverev for the second time in three head-to-head matches after claiming a win over his German opponent at the Olympic Games in Paris.
Musetti hit 35 winners and saved eight of the 12 break points he faced to clinch the biggest hard-court win of his career.
Zverev won an extended rally to earn an early break and consolidated it with a hold at 15. The German player saved a break point with a service with a service winner and earned a break point in the next game. Musetti netted a backhand dropping serve for the second time to trail 2-5. Zverev served out the first set in the eighth game after 38 minutes.
Musetti saved break points in the first game of the second set before breaking serve in the second game to open up a 4-1 lead. Zverev broke back in the seventh game and held to love to draw level to 4-4. Musetti fended off break points in the ninth and eleventh games to send the second set to the tie-break. Musetti rallied from 0-3 down in the tie-break and earned a set point at the net at 5-5. The Olympic bronze medallist closed out the tie-break with a forehand winner.
Musetti earned a double break at the start of the third set to open up a 3-0 lead. Zvevev pulled one break backin the fourth game. Musetti won his next service games and served out at love with a forehand crosscourt winner at 5-4 to secure his spot in the semifinal.
“It did not start how we planned. I was struggling to find the right balance with my forehand and the variation of my backhand. I stayed there, even when he came back in the second set. I saved a lot of break points. It’s definitely a match that means a lot to me. It’s a pretty big win in my career because Sasha really loves to play here on this court in these conditions. I was feeling in good shape and today I showed that”, said Musetti.
Musetti will face this year’s US Open semifinalist Jack Draper for a spot in the final. Draper beat Tomas Machac 6-3 3-6 6-1. Musetti will play in his seventh semifinal of the year. Draper has a 2-0 lead in his head-to-head matches against Musetti.
Draper broke in the second game en route to winning the first set. Machac earned a break at 3-2 to win the second set drawing level at one set apiece. Draper raced out to a 5-0 lead with two breaks of serve in the decider. Machac held serve at 15 to avoid the bagel, but Draper served out the third set at love.
“I thought the first set was really physical. It’s always tough playing Tomas. He is so solid off the ground”, said Draper.
