Lorenzo Musetti beat Gabriel Diallo 6-4 6-3 in 1 hours and 29 minutes to reach his second Masters 1000 semifinal this year at the Madrid Mutua Open.
Musetti has won 9 of his past 10 matches. He lost only to Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo.
Diallo reached his first Masters 1000 quarter final as a lucky loser.
Musetti won 77 % of his second serve points and saved four of the five break points he faced.
Musetti held serve in the second game after a deuce. Diallo hit a service winner in the fifth game to hold serve at 15 for 3-2 before breaking serve in the sixth game to open up a 4-2 lead. Musetti broke straight back and held serve in the eighth game with a powerful serve to draw level to 4-4.
Musetti broke at love in the ninth game to take a 5-4 lead after a smash error from Diallo.
Musetti fended off four break points as he was serving for the first set at 5-4 before converting his second set point with a service winner.
Musetti hit a forehand crosscourt return winner in the first game of the second set earning three break points. The Italian player converted his second break point as Diallo netted a forehand drive volley. Musetti consolidated the break with a hold at 15 in the second game.
Musetti held at love in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. The Italian player won the sixth game with a hold at 15 to take a 4-2 lead after a backhand error from Diallo. Musetti held at love in the eighth game to open up a 5-3 lead.
Musetti earned a match point after Diallo netted a forehand and converted it after another forehand error from the Canadian player.
“I probably didn’t show my best tennis, but the important thing of this match was to take the win no matter how I was playing. Of course I didn’t feel the ball like last night, but I knew it already stepping on court that today was a tough match, especially on the mental side, so I think I managed to stay there and stay focussed through the last point. Proud to be in the semis”, said Musetti.
Musetti will take on Jack Draper, who cruised past Matteo Arnaldi 6-0 6-4 in 1 hour and 17 minutes without facing any break points to reach his first clay court ATP Tour semifinal and his second Masters semifinal. Draper has become the fourth British player to reach the top 5 joining Andy Murray, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski.
Draper entered the Madrid tournament at world number 6 after reaching the top 10 for the first time following his first Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells.
Draper saved six of the ten break points he faced and broke four times. The British player would move to within just 25 points of world number 4 if he wins his fourth career ATP Tour title.
Draper earned an early break in the first game, when Arnaldi made a forehand error.
Draper consolidated the break with a service winner in the second game. He earned break points with a forehand winner in the third game and broke serve to race out to a 3-0 lead after Arnaldi made a backhand error. Deaper earned another break for 5-0 after Arnaldi netted a backhand. Draper held at love with a forehand down the line to take a bagel win in the first set after 25 minutes.
Arnaldi faced a break point in the third game of the second set and fended it off with a volley winner. Draper held serve at love with a serve and volley to draw level to 2-2. Arnaldi made a drop shot error in the fifth game and faced a break point. Draper converted it with a backhand. Draper held with a service winner in the sixth game. Arnaldi saved two break points to hold serve in the seventh game. Draper held serve with an an ace to open up a 5-3 lead. Arnaldi served to stay in the match in the ninth game and held serve with a service winner for 4-5. Draper held at 15 with an unreturned serve to secure his spot in the semifinal.
“I feel stronger every time I play. Against these guys I used to feel like I would be the one on the back foot, the one defending, so the next part of my game was getting capable physically to do the things I know I can do and bully these guys.I have been doing everything in all areas pretty well and am excited to keep on going. Hopefully it keeps coming together.You see guys like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have no fear and so I just want to go after it, I suppose. My forehand is doing a lot of damage and I want to keep i up. I know I can win any match and lose any match. I am fearful I could lose but that helps me compete the way I do”, said Draper.
