Lorenzo Musetti beat Matteo Arnaldi 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 after four hours and six minutes to reach the second round at the Australian Open.
Musetti saved a break point in the fourth game, but Arnaldi broke serve in the sixth game to take a 4-2 lead and held his serve in the seventh game to open up a 5-2 lead. Musetti won four consecutive games with two breaks to earn the chance to serve for the set, but Arnaldi broke back to draw level to 6-6 forcing the set to the tie-break. Both players traded mini-breaks to draw level to 2-2. Musetti earned his second mini-break for 5-4 and held his next two service points to win the tie-break 7-4.
Musetti broke serve at love in the first game of the second set and held serve to take a 2-0 lead. There were four consecutive breaks between the sixth and ninth games. Arnaldi broke twice in the sixth and eighth games, but Musetti broke back each time.
Musetti converted his fourth break point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead, but Arnaldi broke back in the seventh game. Musetti earned the only mini-break to win the tie-break 7-5 after 73 minutes.
There were four consecutive breaks of serve between the second and fifth games. Arnaldi went up a break twice, but Musetti broke straight back both times.
Musetti won five consecutive games from 1-3 down to claim the fourth set 6-3.
“I knew before the match that it would have been difficult to play against a friend. Even last year, when I reached the semifinal at Wimbledon, I did not play the first round matches at such a high level, but at the end I played my best tennis. I hope to do the same at the Australian Open. My goal is to reach the second week”, said Musetti.
Musetti will face either Roberto Bautista Agut or Denis Shapovalov in the second round.