Lorenzo Musetti, beat Matteo Berrettini 6-3 6-3 in the all-Italian third round match at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.
Musetti now leads 2-1 in his three head-to-head matches against Berrettini.
Musetti held serve from 0-30 down in the first game before breaking serve in the second game to open up a 2-0 lead. Musetti held serve at 15 to consolidate the break for 3-0. Musetti rallied from 0-30 down to hold serve at deuce at 3-1.
Musetti came back from 15-30 down in the seventh game to hold serve for 5-2 before serving out the first set 6-3 with a hold at 15.
Musetti converted his third break point in the first game of the second set, as Berrettini made a backhand error. Berrettini saved a break point in the fourth game to hold serve at deuce for 1-2.
Berrettini saved a break pojnt in the seventh game for 3-4, but Musetti sealed the second set 6.3 with a double break on his first match point.
Musetti made just nine unforced errors to Berrettini’s 44. The Italian player has improved his win-loss record to 12-2 since last July.
Musetti reached his second Masters 1000 quarter final in Monte-Carlo.
“It was a very stressful match and not only because it is always difficult to play a derby, against a friend, a teammate. There was also a lot of emotion, playing in front of my family and with so many Italians in the stands, with a 50-50 crowd. Mentally it was a demanding match, also because I knew I couldn’t leave anything to Matteo, who can recover you at any moment. Now I want to stay focused on the next match and hopefully we can continue like this”, said Musetti.
